FEMA adds $1.5 M to fire aid

Communities hit by a massive wildfire last year are getting more financial help from the federal government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the state $1.5 million. The money will to southeast Georgia’s Ware County to pay for costs associated with fighting the Sweat Farm Road Fire. It broke out on April 16, 2007, in Ware County. 82 fire departments helped. By the time it was contained two months later, it impacted over 500,000 acres, destroyed five homes, threatened 800 homes and businesses in the city of Waycross and forced about 2,100 evacuations. The total amount of federal reimbursement for the fire is now at $19 million.

Wildfire could burn into winter

A major fire burning in southeast Georgia could burn into winter. The Sweat Farm Road Fire is the Southeast’s biggest wildfire in over a century. The Georgia Forestry Commission says despite heavy rainfall earlier this month, the blaze will keep going until at least December. The fire sparked in mid-April from downed power lines. It spread quickly, burning over 80,000 acres in Ware and Charlton counties. Losses have reached over $29 million dollars.

900+ battle Ware County wildfire

The largest wildfire in Georgia history continues to burn near Waycross in southeast Georgia. The so-called Sweat Farm Road/Big Turnaround Fire has engulfed nearly 150 square miles. More than 900 people are working to fire the fire … which is 75% contained. Schools in Ware County have been closed for most of the past two weeks, but were open today. Governor Sonny Perdue has declared a state of emergency for 21 area counties.