BRUNSWICK, Ga. – Smoke from the Brantley County wildfires drifted into neighboring Glynn County, prompting air-quality concerns as voluntary evacuations continued and a local state of emergency remained in effect.
The smoke created a thick haze across parts of Glynn County, and agencies including Glynn Rescue and Fire warned residents that shifting wind patterns could affect visibility and air quality.
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At Selden Park in Brunswick, the American Red Cross opened a shelter for evacuees and anyone needing a safe place to stay as conditions change.
“It was pretty smoky here this morning. But it’s cleared up most of today, but if you look at the sky, you can still see it,” said Mike Bowie with the American Red Cross. “It looks like clouds, but it’s not clouds, it’s smoke.”
Bowie said some people arriving at the shelter were worried the fire was moving toward Brunswick.
“They were afraid that the fire was coming here, but of course we reassured them that it wasn’t,” he said.
The shelter has drawn displaced residents from Brantley County and surrounding areas as they wait for updates and to assess what they may be returning to.
One evacuee, Rick Biehl, said the conditions he saw reminded him of combat.
“I’ve been in the war. This is a warzone out here,” Biehl said. “It’s nuts. And it’s a losing battle at, like, what is it, 7% to 10%. And it just gone wild. There’s nothing we can do except accept the fact that people are just going to have to rebuild.”
Biehl and Patty Corsones said they are still waiting to learn whether their home is still standing.
“We’re just trying to facilitate, you know, something to help us get started again,” Biehl said. “Until I find out whether my home is gone or not.”
For many evacuees, the waiting has been the hardest part while balancing uncertainty with the hope that they will have something to return to.
“I have faith that it’s still there. Now, I could be wrong, but it’s better to have hope,” Corsones said. “Better to do something than nothing at all,” Biehl said.
The American Red Cross said the shelter at Selden Park is open 24/7 and is accepting donations and volunteers. The organization said it plans to remain on site through May 10.