Wildfires update

The massive wildfire that is affecting southeast Georgia into Florida has burned over 240-thousand acres, and continues to cause havoc for firefighters, travelers, and residents.

The blaze was sparked just over a week ago from a lightning strike in the Okefenokee Swamp. Officials today report 30-percent containment on the fire. In Florida alone, it has burned over 102-thousand acres. Windy conditions in the forecast are expected to test new and existing fire-lines that have been constructed.

Road travel continues to be greatly affected. Several highways in Georgia and Florida were closed. Travel on Interstates 75 and 10 is allowed when visibility permits. Roads closed in Georgia: US 441 from Homerville to the state line; SR 177 between Stephen C Foster State Park and Fargo; SR 94 closed to through traffic--from Moniac west to the state line; SR 94 entirely closed from the Florida line through Fargo to Statenville; SR 185 is open for local traffic only.

Firefighters in Georgia are battling another massive blaze nearby, which has charred more than 130-thousand acres since mid-April. And just from this past weekend, north Georgia had a new blaze flare-up from what may have been a lightning strike—over 900 acres burned in the Chattahooche National Forest in Gilmer County. The fire is about 10 miles north of Ellijay.