BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. – Though the nearly 23,000-acre Brantley County wildfire is not completely out, the sheriff’s office said it was adjusting some road closures and evacuation orders to allow residents to return to their homes.
On Monday, officials said residents would be allowed limited entry during a break in fire weather, cautioning anyone returning to be ready to evacuate again if conditions worsened.
As of Monday afternoon, the Highway 82 fire stood at 22,600 and remained at 6% contained.
The guidelines for reentry are as follows:
Highway 110 corridor:
- Residents must show proof of residence at either Satilla Grocery/HWY 259 or Highway 32/301 (open lot west of 301) to receive a placard for entry
- Residents only; no commercial vehicles.
- Children under 18 must be with an adult at all times in the voluntary evacuation area.
The previous mandatory evacuation zone and road closures from the eastern county line, extending north from Hwy 82 to Hwy 32 and across to Boots Harrison Road, are also being modified.
The following roads have reopened:
- Post Road (side roads off Post that are not through roads are open)
- Eastern portion of Albert Gibson (west of Boots Harrison remains closed)
- Eastern portion of Murphy Road to Mineral Springs
Deputies will remain in the area to direct residents and ensure everyone is safe.
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.
“I’m just thrilled to be back,” Debra Brantley said. “We’ve tried four times, and we have six dogs, and we’ve traveled back and forth to Glennville to stay with my husband’s mother, and she had fencing, and it was very convenient, comfortable, but there’s no place like home.”
Brantley was one of many who lined up in the Satilla Grocery parking lot Monday afternoon to get a placard, giving her and her family permission to go back home. Her home was not damaged in the fire.
She said her family would be prepared to leave if conditions took a turn for the worse again.
John Huffman also got to go home, a refreshing change of pace from the last week.
“It’s just been tense,” he said. “My home is fine. So I am one of the lucky ones where there’s no damage. But like I said, there are a lot out there that have lost a lot, and so the extra protection for the area is wonderful.”
“So far, my family’s safe and their homes are safe,” Brantley said. “It’s just unbelievable. And I hope the best for everybody. Just keep praying, you know, to Jehovah our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and just stay together and love one another."