NAHUNTA, Ga. – Brantley County is beginning to shift from response to recovery after days of devastation from the wildfire, but officials warn that while fire crews are making progress, the danger is not over.
They’re urging families returning to evacuation zones to remain alert.
RELATED: Full coverage of Brantley County fire
The Highway 82 Fire that sparked on April 20 when a foil balloon touched a power line, creating an electrical arc that set the ground ablaze, now exceeds 22,600 acres (roughly 35 square miles).
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.
Rains on Sunday slowed the fire enough to give crews an opening on Monday and Tuesday to widen containment lines along the perimeter and to snuff out some smoldering pockets, said Johnny Sabo, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission.
That helped boost the containment from just 6% on Monday to 32% on Tuesday.
INTERACTIVE MAP: Highway 82 fire
“As that number increases, our confidence at holding it in that footprint increases,” Sabo told reporters. “We have a long way to go. I just want to stress that.”
Re-entry continues
Progress made against the Brantley County blaze prompted local officials to lift evacuation orders Monday and Tuesday for roughly 1,500 people who had fled their homes. About 2,500 remained displaced, said Susan Heisey, a spokesperson for the fire command team.
At least 90 homes or businesses and about 55 small structures have been destroyed, officials said, but no structures were lost on Tuesday, according to Incident Commander Josh Graham.
No fire injuries or deaths have been reported in Georgia.
For those wanting to return to evacuation zones, deputies are issuing placards to residents to get past the security checkpoint, and they will remain in the area to direct residents and ensure everyone is safe.
The guidelines for reentry are as follows:
Highway 110 corridor (110 West residents):
- 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
- Placard pickup is from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at both locations (no limit per home)
- Residents only; no commercial vehicles
- Follow all road closures and barricades
- Keep children under 18 with an adult at all times
- Be ready to leave again if conditions change
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)
- Albert Gibson is open from Post Road; Closed at Boots Harrison to Browntown Road
- Murphy Road is open from Post Road; Closed at Mineral Springs
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.
Officials have created a Facebook page to share updates on the ongoing firefight: www.facebook.com/Hwy82fire.
Challenging conditions
Officials haven’t said how long the Highway 82 fire might burn, only that it will take significant rainfall to extinguish it.
The state’s worst drought in two decades has rendered vast pine forests and swampy lowlands tinder dry and highly combustible.
Forecasts showed a high chance of more rain over the fires this weekend. But there’s also a possibility of thunderstorms, which can produce lightning that causes new fires.
Sabo noted that a vast fire sparked by lightning in the nearby Okefenokee Swamp in 2011 burned for just shy of a year.
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 good to excellent humidity recovery should continue at night, officials said.
Temperatures will continue to increase, reaching 90 degrees on Wednesday afternoon, and humidity will drop to around 30%, officials said in a Tuesday afternoon update.
RELATED: Why humidity matters in wildfire season
Emergency crews have set up a staging area at the local airport, and the National Guard has been actively supporting firefighting operations, according to fire officials.
Firefighters continue making progress, but one ongoing challenge is locating and extinguishing persistent hot spots throughout the fire area, officials said.
Some of these hot spots are found in stump holes, root systems, and deep organic material such as peat or forest duff, where heat can remain trapped below the surface for extended periods of time.
Though they may appear minor from above, these areas can continue smoldering underground and reignite unburned fuels nearby. If winds increase, they also have the potential to produce embers that could start spot fires outside the immediate area.
Crews will continue patrolling the fire perimeter on Wednesday, identifying hidden heat sources, and extinguishing hot spots to reduce the risk of reburn and strengthen containment lines. This work is a critical part of daily operations and helps ensure progress already made on the fire is maintained, officials said.
On Tuesday, south of Highway 82, crews found lingering heat pockets and requested an excavator to break up berms so they could fully extinguish those spots.
On the east side near Boots Harrison Road, crews used excavators to put out hot spots, improve lines toward Post Road, and build extra lines behind homes in Browntown.
They’re also coordinating with timber companies (including Rayonier and Weyerhaeuser) to get equipment, access, and added support if the fire moves.
On the northwest side near Fendig, crews are building contingency lines, and along the Hwy 110/Highway 32 corridor, they are patrolling and securing remaining hot spots.
Evacuations
All homes, roads and properties within the following boundaries in Brantley County are under mandatory evacuation:
- North: Wayne County line
- South: Highway 82
- West: See map below
- East: Old 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:
Voluntary Evacuation / Prepare to Leave
- Old Post Road to Highway 32
- Highway 32 to Thalman Park Lane
- Thalman Park Lane to Bladen Road
- Bladen Road to Old Post Road
- 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:
Glynn County
- Highway 32 closed between Highway 301 and Highway 99 (GDOT)
- Highway 110 closed between Highway 32 and Highway 82 (GDOT)
Brantley County
- Mineral Springs
- Boots Harrison
- Mumford Road
- Crandall Road
- Hawthorne Road
- Browntown Road (from Hwy 82 to Wayne County line)
- Hwy 32 from Highway 110 W to Browntown Road
- Restricted Access (residents only)
- Hwy 32 from Hwy 301 to Hwy 110 West
- Hwy 32 – Post Rd to Browntown Rd NE (north of 32, east of Browntown Rd)
- Placard Access Only
- Hwy 110 West from Hwy 82 to Hwy 32
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
“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.”
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 through Friday for students, but employees will return on Thursday and Friday.
Officials will continue to provide updates as the conditions change.
Brantley County School Nutrition will be delivering student meals again on Wednesday at the following times and locations:
| 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, but if smoke becomes an issue, outdoor activities will be limited or suspended.
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
Officials say a resource center will open at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Brantley County Recreation Center—bringing together multiple organizations in one place.
For those who want to help, 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)
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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.
For those who want to give a monetary donation, GoFundMe, the top crowdfunding online platform, has launched a centralized hub featuring campaigns for wildfire families that have been vetted by GoFundMe staff.
The Georgia Wildfire Relief Hub can be found at gofundme.com/communities/georgia-wildfire-relief-2026.
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