NAHUNTA, Ga. – The Highway 82 Fire that sparked in Brantley County on April 20 continues to grow and now exceeds 22,600 acres, officials announced Monday.
Highway 82 in Brantley County is about 35 miles north of the state line with Florida, and the fire is mainly impacting the communities of Atkinson and Waynesville.
The Latest: Evacuations, road closures, shelters & more as battle to save homes from Highway 82 Fire continues
Emergency crews in Southeast Georgia have now been working for one week to contain the fires that have forced people out of their homes and closed major roads and highways.
The fire remains 6% contained. Officials pointed out that the entire state of Georgia is in a drought, with Brantley County being in an exceptional drought.
The drought conditions, along with hot and dry weather, are making firefighting efforts challenging.
In a Monday night update, officials said a break in the weather caused the containment line to be reinforced and strengthened around the fire perimeter along the Highway 110 corridor and Browntown Road.
Due to the present weather conditions, officials adjusted some road closures and evacuation orders to allow residents to return to their homes, and deputies issued placards to residents to get past the security checkpoint.
More information on those entry guidelines here.
RELATED: Full coverage of Brantley County fire
Officials have created a Facebook page to share updates on the ongoing firefight: www.facebook.com/Hwy82fire.
Emergency crews have set up a staging area at the local airport as they work around the clock to suppress the fires that have caused critical damage to homes and communities in Brantley County.
Marty and I were with those on the ground helping the victims of the South Georgia wildfires yesterday, thanking the volunteers, first responders, and listening to the community leaders who are showing the very best of what it means to be a Georgian. We’re so thankful for their…
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 27, 2026
As of Saturday, the fire had destroyed at least 87 homes, including some belonging to first responders who continue to work despite their personal loss.
“It’s very important to understand, No. 1, we’ve got some heartbroken folks working this fire. They’ve been here almost a week. No. 2, you need to know we care,” Brantley County Manager Joey Cason said.
Updated figures on homes damaged or destroyed by the blaze were not immediately available Sunday afternoon, said Susie Heisey, spokeswoman with the Southern Area Incident Management Team.
“Our firefighters worked so hard and had so much success in protecting structures and private homes, but there also were losses,” Heisey said.
Due to the ongoing fire, investigators can’t be sent in yet to assess damages, she added.
More crews were expected to arrive Monday to help battle it, Cason said.
“There’s a ton of assets that are being poured into this fire to, hopefully, get it under control or get it out,” he said. “This whole situation is heartbreaking.”
Brantley County remains under a mandatory curfew from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., and a burn ban is in place for all counties in south Georgia.
Shifting winds
Firefighters had battled valiantly to keep the fire west of Browntown Road, but wind shifts caused them to lose some containment, and the fire is now east of Browntown Road.
Firefighters will be continuing to improve and widen containment lines north of Highway 32, along Browntown Road and Hwy 110. Structure assessments north on Highway 110 will continue.
Along Browntown Road, firefighters are strengthening and widening containment lines and engines crews are extinguishing hot spots.
“The fire basically doubled last night in size,” Cason said Sunday in a Facebook post. “It is a dynamic fire event that will be impacted by the wind.”
Wind gusts in the 15-25 mph range are expected to stick around through Wednesday, according to The Weather Authority. No rain is expected through Wednesday but there should be good to excellent humidity recovery at night, officials said.
An isolated thunderstorm Sunday night moved across the entire fire area, giving the firefighters a much-needed break from the extreme fire behavior.
It will be cooler with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. Winds today will be from the northeast and out of the east tonight and Tuesday.
The wind shifting to the northeast will push on the western side of the fire along Hwy 110. This push will test some of the established lines and push the fire to the west on the northwest corner of the fire north of Fin Dig.
The Highway 82 fire was started by a foil balloon hitting live power lines. That created an electrical arc that ignited combustible material on the ground.
Evacuations
Cason and other county officials urge community members to take action and follow evacuation orders if they receive a warning.
“We had folks that did not evacuate, and they almost got caught by that fire,” Cason added. “It’s going to be another potential bad fire day as the winds pick up later in the day.”
All homes, roads and properties within the following boundaries in Brantley County are under mandatory evacuation:
- North: Highway 32
- South: Highway 82
- West: Highway 110
- East: Post Road
For information about evacuations and road closures in Brantley County, call the Sheriff’s Office at 912-674-5878 or 912-674-0195.
Glynn County (glynncounty.org/wildfires) evacuations include the following:
As of a Monday afternoon update, mandatory evacuations for the following areas were downgraded to voluntary:
- Old Post Road to Highway 32
- Highway 32 to Thalman Park Lane
- Thalman Park Lane to Bladen Road
- Bladen Road to Old Post Road
Voluntary Evacuation / Prepare to Leave
- Alpine Road
- Gilley Road
- Boones Branch Road
- Sallie Cline Road
- Mauney Street
- Chelsea Circle
- Post Road north of Highway 82
- Old Post Road north of Highway 32
Residents in voluntary evacuation areas should prepare essential items and be ready to leave if conditions worsen.
Road closures
These road closures remain in effect:
- Highway 110 W – from Highway 82 to Highway 32
- Highway 32 – from Highway 301 to Post Road
- Browntown Road – from Highway 82 to the Wayne County line
MORE: Latest road closures
Emergency personnel were conducting damage and safety assessments in these areas on Monday. The Sheriff’s Office said that until those assessments are completed, roads will remain closed to ensure the safety of both the public and first responders.
“Do not attempt to enter closed or restricted areas,” the Sheriff’s Office warned. “We understand the importance of access, and we will provide updates as soon as assessments are complete and it is safe to reopen roadways.”
These road closures are also active:
Glynn County
- Old Post Road at Highway 82 and Highway 32
- Thalman Park Lane closure at Highway 32
- Bladen Road closure at Highway 99
- Highway 32 closed between Highway 301 and Highway 99 (GDOT)
- Highway 110 closed between Highway 32 and Highway 82 (GDOT)
Brantley County
- Browntown Road from Wayne County Line to Highway 82
- Highway 32 from Post Road to Highway 301
- Post Road from Highway 82 to Highway 32
- Little Memorial Road from Highway 32 to Wayne County Line
- Highway 110W from Highway 82 to Highway 32
- Crandall Road
- Gallberry Road
- Shady Oaks Circle at Highway 259 (residence access escorted only)
- Hawthorne Road
- Brushy Creek Road
- Fendig Road
- Mumford Road
- Albert Gibson Road
- Murphy Road
- Boots Harrison Road
- Bladen Road at Post Road
Wayne County
- Manningtown Road at Ron Road
- Post Road at Ten Mile Road to Wayne-Brantley Line
- Wire Road to Brantley Line
- Mt. Pleasant Road at Browntown Road
The Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia State Patrol are closely monitoring the smoke and fog conditions, which could cause intermittent closures of Highway 82 if visibility conditions deteriorate.
Schools
Brantley County Schools remain closed Monday and Tuesday, and officials will continue to provide updates as the conditions change.
Brantley County School Nutrition shared the following times and locations where student meals will be distributed from a bus on Monday:
| Location | Time |
|---|---|
| Pleasant Valley | 3-4 p.m. |
| Hoboken Elementary | 4-5 p.m. |
| Senior Citizen Center Nahunta | 4-5 p.m. |
| Transportation Department | 3-5 p.m. |
| Bohannon/Church 301 South | 3-4 p.m. |
| Waynesville Primary | 3-4 p.m. |
| Hortense 301/32 | 3-4 p.m. |
| Raybon Store | 4-5 p.m. |
Glynn County Schools will be open as normal on Monday, but if the smoke worsens, outdoor activities will be limited or suspended. Any students affected by mandatory evacuations will receive an excused absence.
Closures
There is a temporary flight restriction over the fire area to avoid conflict between personal aircraft and firefighting efforts.
This includes all recreational and professional unmanned aircraft (drones).
Polls will be open at the normal location: Elections Office, 10305 N Main St., Nahunta, Ga. 31553.
Shelters
Glynn County has coordinated with the American Red Cross to establish a 24/7 shelter at Selden Park to support individuals affected by the fires in Brantley County.
The address is 100 Genoa Martin Drive, Brunswick, Georgia.
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The shelter will also have an air-conditioned mobile unit to house small pets (dogs/cats) in crates. Bedding and crates can be provided.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture Facebook page has listed evacuation locations for large animals.
Day shelters are also available at:
- Nahunta Methodist Church, 107 E Cleveland St, Nahunta
- Southside Baptist Church, 550 School St, Nahunt
Pets are only allowed at the Red Cross Shelter in Brunswick.
Donations
For affected community members, the following locations are accepting donations:
- Brantley Gas, 114 Satilla Ave., Nahunta (new or gently used clothing, hangers, hygiene items, empty totes with lids)
- H&S Haulers, 125 Industrial Park, Nahunta (nonperishable items and pet food)
- Brantley County Family Connections, 10305 Main St., Nahunta (all donations)
The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office said donations can no longer be accepted at the command post at the airport.
“Moving forward, all donations will be coordinated through Brantley County Family Connection. They will serve as the central point for receiving and distributing donations to and from the Command Post to ensure everything is managed safely and efficiently‚” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Air quality concerns
Smoke conditions can change quickly as wildfire activity and wind patterns shift. Residents should monitor air quality and take precautions when smoke is present.
Current Air Quality Resources
- AirNowCheck current air quality and smoke conditions in your area. View AirNow
Sensitive groups should take precautions
- People with asthma
- COPD / respiratory conditions
- Heart conditions
- Older adults
- Children
Recommended actions
- Stay indoors when possible
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Run filtered air / HVAC if available
- Limit outdoor activity during heavy smoke
- Follow your provider’s guidance if symptoms worsen