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.

Final: GHSA State Football 4A Championship

Northside (Warner Robins) 20 Ware County 14

Northside's Eagles won their 2nd straight championship in Class 4A Friday night in Waycross.

Trailing 14-10 late in the 4th quarter, Northside tailback Tijuan Green took a direct snap, and hit Nick Bass on a 40-yard touchdown strike and the go-ahead score with 5:23 remaining. The Eagles would add a field goal with just over 2-minutes left to close the scoring.

Green finished with 232 yards of total offense to help lead Northside to victory. The Eagles were able to comeback and win, overcoming 4 turnovers. Ware County's Gators weren't able to muster much on offense, with only 98 total yards on the night.

Northside is the 7th team in Georgia history to finish back-to-back 15-0 seasons.

FEMA releases more wildfire funds

Another $4-million dollars are coming to Georgia from the federal government to re-pay costs of fighting a massive wildfire this spring. This is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s second installment toward the Sweat Farm Road Fire. The fire broke out April 16th in Ware County near Waycross and burned 80,000 acres over two months. FEMA reimburses 75% of approved firefighting costs, including equipment, materials, labor, food and lodging.

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.

North Georgia county cancels fireworks

Drought has led another Georgia community to scrap plans for Fourth of July fireworks. Woodstock in Cherokee County north of Atlanta says many homeowners wrote letters voicing concerns over brush fires. Ware County in southeast Georgia has also banned fireworks through the Fourth of July.

Weekend rain helps wildfires

Southeastern Georgia got a much-needed soaking this weekend. Tropical Storm Barry dropped as much as six inches in Ware, Charlton and Clinch Counties. Those counties have been fighting wildfires for nearly two months. The rain was not enough to put the fires out but they are now 85% contained.

Governor tours wildfires, blood donations sought

Governor Sonny Perdue is in southeast Georgia today touring damage from the massive wildfire in Ware County near Waycross. Over the past two weeks the blaze has consumed 87,000 acres of forest and swampland. Another, smaller wildfire is burning in nearby Atkinson County. Today Governor Perdue is expected to declare Ware and Brantley Counties disaster areas so that people who lost their homes can apply for additional state and federal funds. In addition to forcing people out of their homes and schools and roads to close … the wildfires are affecting blood donations across south Georgia. Three blood drives have been canceled in the past two weeks because of the fires. The American Red Cross Blood Bank in Albany is asking eligible donors to give blood to help make up the deficit.

Governor to visit wildfire region

Governor Sonny Perdue will take a tour of southeast Georgia by air later today to get a firsthand look at the damage of wildfires that have been raging for two weeks. So far, the blaze has charred 80-thousand acres of swamp and forest. There are more than 800 firefighters on the scene--it's reported they have the fire about 64-percent contained.

Some smaller fires have now sprung up in Ware and Charlton counties, which have been deemed suspicious enough to call for arson investigators to be brought in. Those experts may have to come from other agencies--the Georgia Forestry Commission's own people are all involved on the lines fighting the fires.

Wildfires persist, but more federal funds are coming

More federal funds are coming in to help southeast Georgia recover from wildfires. One of the blazes -- the so-called “Kneenocker Fire” – has flared up again in Brantley County, just outside Nahunta. Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved money for the wildfire in neighboring Ware County. Under the agreement, the federal government will pay for 75% of the state's eligible firefighting costs. The wildfires are keeping hundreds of people from getting into their homes. And schools in Ware County were closed again today because of the smoke. The blazes have blackened more than 95 square miles near Waycross since last Monday, and they could spread. The fire in Ware County is only 50% under control even with 700 firefighters at work. 22 homes have been destroyed and hundreds evacuated.

Wildfires burn in south Georgia

South Georgia is still dealing with a wildfire that has now burned 10-thousand acres of forest, as well as destroyed a mobile home. Ware County’s fire chief has reported no injuries, except for a minor hand-injury to a firefighter.

The fire is believed to have started when a tree was blown onto a live power line, between Georgia-122 and U-S 84, known as Valdosta Highway. It has burned a path about nine miles long, three-quarters of a mile wide.

Officials say the blaze could head toward the heart of the Okefenokee Swamp, but that could change depending on wind direction. Two other fires are burning in the area, which has drawn the assistance of crews from many surrounding counties.