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Wildfires forced residents to flee on Wednesday after destroying dozens of homes in Southeast Georgia as drought and winds fueled flames. Some of the biggest blazes were near Georgia’s coast, while others were popping up in northern Florida, a state facing one of its worst fire seasons in decades.Here’s what to know about the ongoing fires and their impacts on the region:Where are the wildfires?The largest have been reported in Brantley, Appling and Clinch counties, with several thousand acres impacted. Several mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Brantley County.Click here for an updated map of the wildfires across the state.Why is this happening?Southeast Georgia has seen just 11 inches of rain since the beginning of September — almost 15 inches below normal. Click here for more on what causes wildfires. Burn ban issuedA 30-day burn ban was issued Wednesday for more than 90 of the state’s southern counties. Florida sees its worst wildfire season in decadesIn Florida, firefighters battled more than 130 wildfires that burned 39 square miles, mostly in the state’s northern half.“Florida has got one of the worst fire seasons in maybe the last 30 or 40 years, or it’s turning out to be that way,” state Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said. “We’ve been in drought for 18 months now all across the state.”Video above: Fire rages along US 82 in GeorgiaSmoke blows into Atlanta and JacksonvilleThe National Weather Service said a dangerous combination of low humidity and breezy winds would keep the fire danger elevated Wednesday.Smoke drifted to Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida. The air quality in parts of south Georgia declined to the unhealthy category, meaning all people there might feel health effects.Smoky conditions were expected to linger throughout the Atlanta area, according to the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. The worst fires were more than 200 miles southeast of the city.Smoke from Georgia fires also spread into South Carolina, according to its forestry commission.The high fire risk was expected to continue each afternoon through Friday due to the very dry conditions, the weather service said.Widespread health concernsEnvironmental officials have issued an air quality alert across a large stretch of South Carolina and portions of Georgia as smoke continues to drift into the region. Here’s how to check the air quality. The Associated Press contributed to this report
Wildfires forced residents to flee on Wednesday after destroying dozens of homes in Southeast Georgia as drought and winds fueled flames.
Some of the biggest blazes were near Georgia’s coast, while others were popping up in northern Florida, a state facing one of its worst fire seasons in decades.
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Here’s what to know about the ongoing fires and their impacts on the region:
Where are the wildfires?
The largest have been reported in Brantley, Appling and Clinch counties, with several thousand acres impacted. Several mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Brantley County.
Click here for an updated map of the wildfires across the state.
Why is this happening?
Southeast Georgia has seen just 11 inches of rain since the beginning of September — almost 15 inches below normal. Click here for more on what causes wildfires.
Burn ban issued
A 30-day burn ban was issued Wednesday for more than 90 of the state’s southern counties.
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This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Florida sees its worst wildfire season in decades
In Florida, firefighters battled more than 130 wildfires that burned 39 square miles, mostly in the state’s northern half.
“Florida has got one of the worst fire seasons in maybe the last 30 or 40 years, or it’s turning out to be that way,” state Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said. “We’ve been in drought for 18 months now all across the state.”
Video above: Fire rages along US 82 in Georgia
Smoke blows into Atlanta and Jacksonville
The National Weather Service said a dangerous combination of low humidity and breezy winds would keep the fire danger elevated Wednesday.
Smoke drifted to Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida. The air quality in parts of south Georgia declined to the unhealthy category, meaning all people there might feel health effects.
Smoky conditions were expected to linger throughout the Atlanta area, according to the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. The worst fires were more than 200 miles southeast of the city.
Smoke from Georgia fires also spread into South Carolina, according to its forestry commission.
The high fire risk was expected to continue each afternoon through Friday due to the very dry conditions, the weather service said.
Widespread health concerns
Environmental officials have issued an air quality alert across a large stretch of South Carolina and portions of Georgia as smoke continues to drift into the region. Here’s how to check the air quality.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
