South Georgia wildfires most dangerous in the United States, over 38,000 acres burned, Gov. Kemp says

Two fast-moving wildfires in South Georgia have destroyed more than 120 homes and forced evacuations. Officials warn that shifting winds could push flames into new areas as crews continue working to contain the flames.

At a press conference after surveying the damage, Gov. Brian Kemp said that federal authorities have determined the Highway 82 in Brantley County and the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County are currently the "two most dangerous, biggest, problematic fires anywhere in the United States."

The Georgia Forestry Commission confirmed Friday that the Brantley County fire had grown to 7,500 acres. Officials said the fire was about 15% contained but continued to change rapidly based on wind conditions and dry weather. The Pineland Road fire, which grew to more than 31,000 acres, remained only 10% contained.

"As you can imagine, it's a lot for us to have to deal with," Kemp said.

Crews are focusing on protecting homes and building fire lines, with help from heavy equipment like bulldozers and support from federal air tankers dropping water and fire retardant from above.

While the cause of the fires remains under investigation, and crews fight the blazes, Kemp said that they believe the Highway 82 fire was started by a party balloon that landed on a power line, which caused a spark. The Pineland Road fire is believed to have started by a spark from a resident who was welding a gate that got out of control.

Hundreds of homes remain in harm's way from fires, Gov. Kemp says

The governor said that this week's fires are believed to have created the most lost homes for fires in Georgia's history.

The Brantley County fire is believed to have destroyed 87 homes with over 800 more in harm's way, Kemp said. The Clinch County fire has destroyed 35 homes, with around 160 in harm's way.

"We need a change in the weather, but until we get that, we're just going to stay after these fires and do everything we can to get them contained," Kemp said.

Authorities say it will take around 8 to 10 inches of rain to tamp down the massive fires, but the state is likely to see less-than-average rainfall until July.

The governor asked Georgians to adhere to a burn ban, which is currently in place in 91 counties, saying any resources that have to go to other fires are reducing the resources that could be used to fight the major fires in South Georgia.

Authorities believe the fire activity will remain extremely high over the weekend.

Brantley County sets curfew in wildfire-affected areas 

Brantley County Manager Joey Cason said the situation remains highly unpredictable.

"This is still a dynamic fire event," Cason said Friday morning. "Wind will determine what happens today. If you receive a mandatory evacuation notice, you need to leave as quickly as possible."

Cason also announced a nighttime curfew beginning Friday at 8:30 p.m. in affected areas. The curfew has been expected to run until 6:30 a.m. Saturday and enforced by law enforcement until conditions improve.

At the command level, officials said a Southern Area Incident Management Team has taken over operations to coordinate the large-scale response. Brantley County Sheriff's Office said 59 fire departments, 20 bulldozers, and multiple aircraft are now working the fire.

Air support includes helicopters and large air tankers assisting ground crews with structure protection and slowing the fire's spread.

Winds impacting spread of wildfires in South Georgia

Weather conditions are expected to remain challenging. Officials said winds out of the southwest and low humidity could increase fire activity during the hottest part of the day.

Evacuations remain in effect, and officials warned more could be ordered if conditions worsen. Residents in affected areas are urged to follow all road closures and evacuation instructions.

Across the region, the Georgia Forestry Commission reported on 31 new wildfires in a single day Thursday, adding to already active large fires burning tens of thousands of acres statewide.

The Georgia National Guard has also deployed aviation units to assist firefighting efforts from the air, helping slow the spread and protect communities.

Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to visit Brantley County on Friday to survey damage and meet with first responders on the ground as recovery and containment efforts continue.