Wildfires burning in Georgia and Floridahave destroyed nearly 100 homes, threaten more residences, forced evacuations and closed roads as thousands of acres continue to burn on April 24.
At least 20 large fires are uncontained across the Southern states, the busiest area for fires in the country right now, according to theNational Interagency Fire Centerin an April 23 update. On April 22 alone, 90 new wildfires were reported in the South.
Firefighters in Georgia are working to contain two major blazes while battling smaller fires that continue cropping up. On April 23, dozens of new fires sprang up. The largest fire in the state, the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County had burned over 31,000 acres and was 10% contained, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. The Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County had burned about 5,000 acres and was 15% contained.
See maps:Track where wildfires are spreading in Georgia and Florida
"This is still a dynamic fire event," Joey Cason, Brantley County manager, said the morning of April 24. "If you receive a mandatory evacuation notice, we need to evacuate just as quickly as possible. ... That containment can move from 15% to 0% in a matter of minutes with the wind."
Georgia has been forced to implement its first-ever burn bans. Gov. Brian Kemp on April 24 said Georgia's National Guard will assist with fire response, with Black Hawk helicopters being deployed.
In Florida, at least 134 wildfires were actively burning nearly 26,000 acres on April 24, reported the Tallahassee Democrat, part of theUSA TODAY Network. A road in Levy County was closed and smoke from fires was affecting visibility in several counties, the outlet reported. The Cow Creek Fire in Levy County was burning more than 1,600 acres and threatening over 1,200 homes.
Firefighters are battling wildfires in two southeastern states, prompting officials in one to issue its first ever burn ban, authorities said on April 22. The blazes, created by "extreme drought," are burning across parts of southern Georgia and northeast Florida, forcing road closures and destroying homes and buildings in their path, officials said.The Florida Forest Service works to contain an April 18, 2026, wildfire in Nassau County, Fla. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
A helicopter is used to carry water over a Nassau County, Fla., wildfire to douse it with on April 18, 2026.
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A wildfire spreads on April 17, 2026, in Putnam County, Fla.
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A haze hangs over Washington Road in Augusta, Ga., April 22, 2026. Richmond and Columbia County have been placed under a burn ban as a large wildfire continues in South Georgia.
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Aerial view of the smoke caused by wildfires in Clay County, Fla., April 21, 2026.
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A Clay County, Fla., wildfire spreads over 4,000 acres April 21, 2026.
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Photos show impact of wildfires across Georgia and Florida
Firefighters arebattling wildfiresin two southeastern states, prompting officials in one to issue its first ever burn ban, authorities said on April 22. The blazes, created by "extreme drought," are burning across parts of southern Georgia and northeast Florida, forcing road closures and destroying homes and buildings in their path, officials said.The Florida Forest Service works to contain an April 18, 2026, wildfire in Nassau County, Fla.
Homes destroyed in Georgia
At least 90 homes have been lost in the Highway 82 fire in Brantley County, Georgia, authorities said on April 23. At least 700 more were being threatened as firefighters worked to contain the fire.
Structures at risk include homes and outbuildings, commercial infrastructure, railroad lines, hunting camps and bee operations, the Georgia Forestry Commission said. Highway 82 and Highway 110 were both shut down near the fire.
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Fire activity increased throughout the afternoon and into the night on April 23, officials in Brantley County said.
A mandatory curfew is in place in the county's affected areas from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. and new evacuations were ordered on April 24.
"Protection of life is the priority while we continue to work to preserve property," the Brantley County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Southern Area Incident Management Team said in a joint statement on April 24.
See maps:Track where wildfires are spreading in Georgia and Florida
Forecasters say drought and heat are fueling fire
Drought conditions in the Southeast show no signs of improving soon, spelling prolonged conditions that could make it difficult for firefighters to contain active blazes or help new ones spring up, AccuWeather reported.
Summer thunderstorm activity should eventually help, but AccuWeather reported there is no significant rain forecast through the end of the month. A few showers may fall, but the region needs widespread rainfall to make a dent in fires.
Smoke from the fires is also traveling hundreds of miles and affecting air quality, AccuWeather said. It could also cause cooler daytime temperatures where smoke spreads. TheGreenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported that the northwestern part of the state was under air quality alerts on April 24 from wildfire smoke spreading from Georgia and Florida.
"This is a dangerous and volatile fire weather pattern across the Southeast, fueled by ongoing drought, intense heat and extremely low humidity," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Wildfires burn in Georgia, Florida; houses burn, evacuations ordered
