SOUTH GEORGIA WILDFIRE UPDATE
The Georgia Forestry Commission and partners continue to battle numerous fires throughout the state. Major wildfires in southern Georgia include:
- Bacon County – Sessom Community fire burning in southwest Bacon County and northern Ware County, 22,246 acres burned, 55 percent contained. This fire was caused by a permitted burn that escaped control;
- Coffee County – Mosley Road fire has burned 1,595 acres and is 90 percent contained. Fire was caused by an escaped permitted burn;
- Clinch County –Arabia Bay fire has burned 12,484 acres and is now 45 percent contained. Arabia Bay fire was ruled an act of arson when it originally ignited in November of 2010. Dry, windy conditions caused this previously-contained fire to spread beyond containment lines;
- Camden County – Maryfields Plantation fire southwest of Kingsland has burned 2,500 acres, mostly in marshy areas, and is 85 percent contained;
- McIntosh County – the Brighton fire has burned 175 acres and is 75 percent contained;
- McIntosh County – the Boggy Gall fire has burned 150 acres and is 75 percent contained;
- Long County – Ludowici fire burned 4,035 acres, three homes destroyed. Fire is 90 percent contained and resulted from a previously-contained wildfire that escaped control;
GFC has restricted outdoor burn permits for the Satilla and Ogeechee Districts
(district map: GFCDistrictMap2011.pdf) until further notice. Permits will be issued for all other districts as conditions allow. Residents in the southeastern portion of the state should expect to continue to see smoke for the coming weeks. GFC urges motorists to use extreme caution when driving through dense smoke due to limited visibility.
GFC will issue updates on these fires through twitter (@GaTrees) as new information is available. For more information on wildfires, fire safety and the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit www.gatrees.org.
03-29-11
14:00 hrs