CAMDEN COUNTY, Ga. – A “large outdoor fire” that threatened homes and forced evacuations in Camden County Tuesday afternoon is now fully contained.
“This is not good,” Ralph Gornto said about first spotting the flames and calling 9-1-1.
The fire burned approximately 13 acres near the River Place subdivision, prompting temporary evacuations and the closure of Highway 17 in northern Camden County.
“Today is a little different than normal. I came out my house and saw smoke. Saw it was along 17 so I called 911,” Gornto said.
Emergency crews faced challenging conditions as they worked to protect homes. Chuck White, Director of Emergency Management for Camden County, explained the situation.
“Fires are complex when there’s wind and heavy fuel loading in the ground and wooded areas and as it butts up to a development, he said. ”You can get an ember picked up, went through the air and down in another spot."
The response brought together multiple agencies including Camden County Fire Rescue, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Glynn County Fire Rescue, and the Camden County Emergency Management Agency.
The conditions prompted alerts for evacuations in the neighborhood.
Officials say the dry conditions are adding to the fire concerns.
“Normally some of these lots are pretty wet. With this dry weather it didn’t help that,” Gornto said.
When asked about the need for rain, White’s response was immediate: “Yeah, we need it bad.”
The fire caused a disruption to afternoon traffic and school bus routes. Camden County Schools issued alerts to parents warning of potential delays, as several buses had to be rerouted due to the closure of Highway 17. The road is now open in both directions.
Emergency management officials are urging residents to take preventive measures, comparing fire preparation to hurricane readiness.
“Keep those areas clean. Clear cut back trim leaves -- some of the things that work for hurricane tropical storm planning. They work for fire prevention for us also,” White advised.
Officials reported no injuries or structural damage from the fire. Camden County Fire Rescue remains on scene monitoring for hot spots.