BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. – A dangerous wildfire in southeast Georgia is continuing to burn out of control, destroying homes and forcing families to evacuate in Brantley County.
The Highway 82 Fire is burning about 5,000 acres and has destroyed more than 50 homes.
No deaths have been reported, but the fire remains only 10% contained, according to the latest update from officials.
“I will be very honest with you,” Brantley County Manager Joey Cason said. “It’s a miracle that we have not had any lives lost.”
Huge plumes of smoke are blanketing the area as wind-fueled flames consume brush and trees left dry from the ongoing drought.
The bottom half of Georgia is perilously dry, prompting the state’s forestry commission to issue a burn ban for the first time in its history.
Georgia has seen just 11 inches of rain since the beginning of September — almost 15 inches below normal, the National Weather Service said.
The conditions are making firefighting efforts difficult, and officials continue to warn that the situation could change quickly, so everyone needs to be prepared for possible evacuations.
At least 25 people have moved into shelters, and they expect that number to grow as conditions change on Thursday.
The fast-moving fire threatened roughly 1,000 homes on Wednesday after destroying dozens a day earlier in the rural county that is roughly midway between Georgia’s coastal beaches and the Okefenokee Swamp.
The area is dotted with livestock and fruit farms as well as thick stands of planted pines grown for timber.
Pine and hardwood forests in the region are helping charge the fires, said Seth Hawkins, a spokesperson for the Georgia Forestry Commission, and swampy lowlands with thick layers of leaves and woody debris are “super flammable” when they dry out.
The commission’s 30-day burn ban is for the southern part of the state.
FEMA also announced the approval of grants for Georgia to battle the blazes as officials watch closely to make sure the fire does not jump the Satilla River.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency across 91 South Georgia counties, mobilizing federal, state, and local resources to help fight the fires and support impacted communities.
He released the following statement:
“With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state’s 5-year average and continue to spread. My team and I are working closely with Georgia State Forester Johnny Sabo and his team, along with federal, state, and local officials, to ensure we are doing everything possible to combat the fires and provide assistance to affected communities. We are praying for the families who have lost their homes in these devastating conditions, as well as for the first responders working around the clock.”
Over 20 fire departments are responding to the massive blaze and extending relief to the many fire crews trying to get a grip on the wildfire.
Cason said the blaze moved so fast on Tuesday that some families were evacuated with minutes to spare.
“There were literally evacuations that were taking place with people removed by our EMS service from the porch as the fire was in their backyard,” Cason said. “It was a very rapidly moving fire yesterday afternoon.”
Georgia Forestry also lost one tractor in the fire, and one firefighter was injured but is expected to recover, Cason said.
The fire is currently impacting multiple areas, including the Atkinson Community, east of the Satilla River, Highway 110 West south of Coffee County Club Road, Highway 110 East south of Gallberry Road, Old State Road 259 to the Satilla River and Browntown Road, and Browntown Road to Crosby Lane.
Officials want residents on both sides of Highway 82, north and south, west of 110 and west of 259 to be packed and ready to go.
During a noon news conference Wednesday, the Brantley County Sheriff echoed that urgency.
“These winds may shift rapidly which may create unpredictable fire behavior, so just stay alert. And for the public, be prepared to evacuate immediately. And for those of you who need extra time for pets, livestock and medical needs that may make you take longer to evacuate, you should leave now if you’re in those affected areas. All others should be ready to leave immediately if conditions worsen,” said Sheriff Len Davis.
Active fire locations
Fires are burning in several areas across the county, including:
- Highway 110 West to south of Drury Lane
- Highway 110 East near Gallberry Road
- Old SR-259 to Satilla Estates
- Highway 82 to Satilla River to Browntown Road
We’re actively monitoring the situation in South Georgia, & we stand ready to assist those impacted.
— GA AG Chris Carr (@Georgia_AG) April 22, 2026
If you’re in the area, please adhere to guidance from local law enforcement & emergency management personnel to keep you & your family safe.
Mandatory evacuations are in place in several areas, and officials are warning people to leave immediately if they’re in those zones.
Brantley County Schools will be closed on Thursday for all students and staff.
Officials said they will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on next steps as information becomes available.
Fire officials are also urging people who see flames in new areas or outside the visible fire lines to call 911, with smoky conditions expected over the next few days.
You can find a map showing the active wildfires here.
Mandatory evacuations
The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office says mandatory evacuations have been issued for the following neighborhoods:
- Browntown Road from Highway 82 to Greenleaf on the west side of the highway
- GA-110 (Yellow Pine Rd) to Thrower Rd
- Happy Hollow
- Drury Lane
- Drury Court
- Coffee Co. Club Road
- Warners Landing
- Oak Woodlands
- Atkinson Road
- Godberry Lane
- Brushing Creek
- Fort Mcintosh to Highway 520 on both sides of the road
- Browntown Rd and Hawks Landing neighborhood
Before you leave, the Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to take medications, IDs, and important documents and to check on neighbors who may need assistance.
They urge everyone in the mandatory evacuation areas to leave early and avoid the closure area if possible, follow all posted detours and directions from responders and expect delays and increased emergency traffic.
Those who need extra time to evacuate — including people with pets, livestock or medical needs — are urged to leave now. Others should be ready to go at a moment’s notice if conditions worsen.
The recommended evacuation route is Highway 32.
Road closures: Where to avoid
Several roads are closed or should be avoided due to active fire activity:
- Waynesville Road to Highway 110
- Waynesville Road to Highway 259
- U.S. Highway 82 (closed from Nahunta to the Glynn County line)
- Satilla Pines to Browntown Road
These closures are in place for public safety and to allow emergency crews to operate effectively. Avoid these areas completely, as emergency vehicles and equipment are actively operating in these areas.
Expect detours and significant travel delays.
Heavy smoke may reduce visibility in and around these routes.
Shelters open for displaced residents
The following locations are open and providing food and water:
- Hortense Church of God — 6756 Highway 32 East, Hortense, GA 31543
- Southside Baptist Church — 550 School St., Nahunta, GA 31553
- Nahunta United Methodist Church — 107 E. Cleveland St., Nahunta, GA 31553
- Little Memorial Baptist — 106 Little Memorial Road, Hortense, GA 31543
Night shelter locations are expected to be announced sometime on Wednesday.
Residents are encouraged to head to the nearest shelter if they need to evacuate. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911.
For a full list of current shelters and updates, residents can visit the Brantley County Government Facebook page.
School Closures
The Brantley County School District announced Wednesday that all schools will continue to remain closed on Thursday due to ongoing fire hazards and affected resources in the area.
“The safety of our students, staff, and families remains our top priority. We appreciate your patience and support during this time,” the district said in a statement.
The wildfire prompted students from two schools to be evacuated on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
Students from Waynesville Primary and Atkinson Elementary were relocated to the Brantley County Middle School gym in Nahunta, where they were supervised by school staff.
Smoke advisory guidance
Residents in affected areas should take the following precautions due to smoke:
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
- Use air conditioning on recirculate mode
- Limit outdoor activity
- Wear an N95 mask if going outside
- Sensitive groups should take extra precautions
- Drive slowly with low-beam headlights on