NAHUNTA, Ga. – While firefighters work to contain the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County, a church in Nahunta is making sure the people on the front lines have everything they need to keep going.
Lulaton Baptist Church has transformed its parking lot into a base camp for first responders, offering hot meals, showers and laundry between shifts.
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief Chaplain David Miller said more than 50 first responders from across Georgia are staying at the church while they work the fire.
“We’re here to bring hope, help and healing to these people who are hurting,” Miller said.
Lt. David Jones with Cherokee Fire Station 8 arrived with his crew on Sunday and was set to leave the same night the story aired. For Jones, the wildfire is a long way from home — and a very different kind of call.
“We didn’t really know what to expect coming down here,” Jones said.
He said being away from family is hard, but the support at the church has helped crews stay focused.
“Being away from family and friends, it’s not easy, but with everybody that’s down here and the support that you have, they’ve made it a lot easier and made us super comfortable,” Jones said.
Miller said the break — a hot shower, a clean uniform and some rest — sends crews back out ready to work.
“When they come here, they leave and get some good refreshing sleep, a refreshing shower, feel better and they go back out and go to work — and now they have a place to come back to when they end their shift and start all over again,” Miller said.
As containment efforts continue, Jones said crews are holding out for one more thing.
“Hoping and praying for rain,” he said.