Governor tours wildfire region

Governor Sonny Perdue on Tuesday took an aerial tour of wildfire-affected areas in southeast Georgia, and said he will seek more federal money to help pay for firefighting costs. He's not sure yet however, how much of the cost will go to state and local governments in those affected areas.

In two weeks time, the largest wildfire in Georgia history has blackened 87-thousand acres of forest and swampland, and has destroyed 22 homes. More than 800 firefighters from Georgia and neighboring states are still on the scene.

There are smaller fires burning in nearby Brantley and Atkinson counties.

Town of Fargo watches approaching fire

About 400 residents of Fargo, in Southeast Georgia, are watching as a dangerous wildfire is being kept at bay just outside of town.

The wildfire started deep in the unpopulated Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge last weekend, but grew and moved with blazing speed to force hundreds outside the refuge to flee their homes. The fire had been moving at speeds of up to 9-miles in a single night and now is about 6-miles upwind of Fargo.

"Well, there's a lot of difference in it moving in the swamp than on the hill," says Robbie Lee, the town's Mayor and a forester. "We've done a lot of fire break work on the hill. I've got a lot of confidence in our fire-fighting abilities."

Lee says, if the fire jumps past key breaks, the town will evacuate. It's now the second Georgia wildfire in a month to burn over 1-hundred-thousand acres as high winds and dry conditions leave the area a tinder box.

Wildfire fund aims to help private forestland in SE Ga

A new fundraising effort could speed up restoring land in southeast Georgia devastated by last year’s wildfires.

The Wildfire Relief Fund will raise money from private sources and distribute it to family farms and forest areas ravaged by the blazes of last spring and summer. The Fund has the backing of many state and local government leaders.

More than a half-million acres burned across 21 counties, most in southeast Georgia. Within that, over 31-thousand acres of private forestland were charred, with only a small percentage of federal money helping those affected.

Several partners are already onboard for the effort, including the Georgia Forestry Commission and Department of Natural Resources. Monte Simpson, spokesman for the Fund, says the goal is to raise 7-million dollars to nurse the land back to health:

"The sooner we get the money, the sooner we can put it to work...identifying these landowners and working with them to help re-establish their lands".

Relief fund officials hope to begin processing applications, and start paying-out assistance, in time for the fall planting season.

Outdoor burn restrictions now in place for Georgia

The wildfire in southeast Georgia and severe drought with its' grip on the state has forced officials to issue tighter outdoor burn restrictions.

The Georgia Forestry Commission will now deny most requests for burn permits. Alan Dozier is chief of fire protection with the Commission. He says that while a total ban is not in place, permits would be considered only on a special case-by-case basis. Exceptions might be made for a burn relating to a road contruction project, or an area that has received a recent, soaking rain.

GFC officials already have their hands full dealing with the massive wildfire in the Waycross-area, and need to devote most resources there.

Georgia already has annual burn restrictions that go into effect May 1st through September for most counties north and central. That is set to help reduce unhealthy ozone levels.

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.

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.

Forestry officials urge caution with arrival of wildfire season

State forestry officials are urging Georgians to use caution with burning debris in their yards. The state’s typical wildfire season usually runs from February to May. Last year, wildfires burned for two months in south Georgia, charring more than 600-thousand acres of swamp and timberland. A state forestry official says even though areas of southeastern Georgia have received more rain, the drought still makes the area ripe for wildfires. State forestry officials are cutting back on its prescribed burns on tree plantations in south Georgia.

2nd wildfire in SE Georgia hits 100-K acres

Firefighters in southeast Georgia report a second wildfire near Folkston has charred more than 100-thousand acres. This is the blaze that was sparked last Saturday by a lightning strike inside the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge.

This has been a fast-moving blaze, fueled by quick burning swamp grasses. It reached the 100-thousand acre mark in only five days time. Officials are worried about the fire reaching the town of Fargo, only eight miles west of the swamp.

Another blaze that was already recorded as the largest in the state’s history began in mid-April, and is approaching 120-thousand acres burned.

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.

Wildfire burns in north Georgia

Officials say it could be several more days before a wildfire in north Georgia’s Towns County is completely put-out. About 100 firefighters are battling the fire, which is on U.S. Forest Service land between Hiawassee and Young Harris. Officials say the blaze has charred around 800 acres. There have no reports of injuries or damage. The fire is said to be about 80-percent contained.

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.

New wildfire in south Georgia

Officials in southeast Georgia reported a new fire that sparked in the Little Okefenokee Swamp Sunday afternoon. It's just north of Folkston, and four miles east of the U.S.-1 and S.R.-121 intersection. This is all part of the bigger picture, in which wildfires in total have burned over half a million acres in southern Georgia and northern Florida. About a dozen homes south of Waycross remained evacuated Sunday.

As dry conditions prevail across the state, officials are urging Georgians to use extreme caution with campfires and cookouts today as they celebrate the holiday. Giving up outdoor cookouts altogether is an option officials would like residents to consider.

Wildfire haze reaches Columbus

A pall of light haze from the wildfires burning in southeast Georgia blew into Columbus and other distant areas of the state on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta reported that winds out of the south wafted the smoke into central and northern parts of the state.

The windblown haze, visible from the hills overlooking the downtown riverfront area during the morning hours, dissipated in the early afternoon.

An official at the state Environmental Protection Division recommended that the elderly, children and those with respiratory ailments remain indoors, according to the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

Wildfire pushes deeper into Okefenokee, closes refuge

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is closed today because of wildfires. High winds have pushed the blaze deeper into the swamp. Fire officials say because southeast Georgia is so dry … conditions are ripe for new fires and rapid fire spread. The fire has been burning for three weeks and has covered 156 square miles.

Georgia wildfires update

It was another tough day for firefighters on the front lines Monday, as winds kicked-up to between 15-25 miles-per-hour in southeast Georgia and northern Florida. The massive blaze that began in the Okefenokee over a week ago, has now burned more than 242-thousand acres.

Residents of Fargo-Georgia have been told to pack necessary belongings and valuables in case they need to leave quickly. Close to 20 homes north of Fargo remain evacuated.

There is also the wildfire burning in north Georgia. Over a thousand acres have burned within the Chattahooche National Forest in Gilmer County. A smaller fire is burning in Pickens County.

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.

Wildfires to burn at least another week officials say.

Officials say a wildfires that has been raging for 2 weeks is 70 percent contained.

The largest wildfire in Georgia history has consumed over 82-thousand acres of forest and swampland in South Georiga’s Ware county.

Georgia Foresty officials say a few families remain evacuated across U-S Highway One where smaller spot fires ignited this weekend. Firefighters continue to patrol the affected 16-mile stretch of highway. 2 more wildfires broke out early yesterday in nearby counties, but they were not related to larger blaze

Officials say strong winds gusting to 15 miles per hour and extreme drought conditions in south Georgia with no rain in the forecast mean the fire will continue to rage for at least another week.

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.

Fed gives Georgia $6M for wildfires

The federal government is giving Georgia $6-million dollars toward what the state spent fighting wildfires this spring. This is the first payment toward paying 75% of Georgia’s eligible firefighting costs.

Governor Sonny Perdue asked for the money in April, when the Sweat Farm Road wildfire was still burning uncontrolled in Ware County near Waycross. Over two-and-a-half months, that fire destroyed 21 structures and 600,000 acres in southeast Georgia and Florida.

The spring 2007 wildfires were the largest in Georgia's history. Officials estimate they cost Georgia $40 million dollars.