U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler visited South Georgia on Friday to survey damage from the Highway 82 wildfires and meet with business owners and local officials as the federal government considers disaster assistance for the region.

As Brantley County continues to deal with the aftermath of devastating wildfires, the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about scammers targeting the community and posing as law enforcement.

After days of evacuating, waiting and watching the smoke, some Brantley County residents are finally returning home—uncertain of what they’ll find, but grateful for what remains.

As community members across the Southeast rally to help families affected by the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County, officials have acknowledged concerns about possible scams popping up.

Wildfire danger is rising in the Jacksonville area as fires impact Brantley County and surrounding regions. News4JAX’s Meteorologist Katie Garner shares an optimistic forecast for rain helping fight the fires, while drought conditions and rainfall deficits persist.

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.

Brantley County Schools will remain closed Monday and Tuesday, but safety and recovery teams are organizing food, medical, and supply services for Brantley County Schools families.

News4JAX meteorologist Katie Garner updates on drought, wildfire danger, wind impacts, and rain forecast for South Georgia, North Florida, and the Jacksonville area.

Ruth Nolasco is one of the people staying at the American Red Cross shelter in Brunswick at the Selden Park Complex.

Hundreds of Brantley County residents are still waiting for the all-clear to return home as wildfires continue to grow past 7,500 acres, destroying 87 homes in the process.

Visibility drops and air quality concerns rise near ongoing wildfires

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and right now, many families are feeling on edge—especially with concerns about fires and emergencies.

A Brantley County business owner, Ginger Hunter says she is starting over from nothing after a fast-moving wildfire destroyed her home, her wedding chapel, and nearly everything tied to her family’s livelihood.

Brantley County Schools remain closed as wildfires continue to burn across the region, forcing the emergency evacuation of two schools and leaving some students and staff without homes.

91 counties in Georgia are under a State of Emergency as the wildfires continue to grow.

Structures lost as flames threaten local communities

Crews are fighting a large brush fire near SW County Road 231 and SW 136th Avenue, according to Bradford County Fire Rescue.

Dr. Ludie Bond is with Florida Forestry Services and joins us via Zoom to discuss the growing wildfires in Northeast Florida.

The community is stepping up to support the firefighters battling a 4,000-acre wildfire as they work to protect homes and businesses.

The Railroad Fire in northern Putnam County, north of Bostwick and east of US 17, is prompting evacuation orders from Putnam County Emergency Management.

Visibility concerns as smoke lingers over inland counties

Two fast-moving brush fires burning near the Clay–Putnam County line are growing into a single large fire burning more than 3,000 acres, threatening structures and forcing voluntary evacuations, according to Florida Forestry Service spokesperson Dr. Ludie Bond.

State and local fire crews are battling two fast-spreading wildfires just a few miles apart from each other near the Clay-Putnam County line, threatening structures and prompting voluntary evacuations.

Two separate wildfires in Gainesville are forcing evacuations, according to the Florida Forest Service.

A fast-moving wildfire in Bostwick is threatening six structures as crews from multiple agencies work to contain the flames, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

Fire Weather Watch issued as onshore winds increase and humidity drops

Smoke and fog keep overnight closures in place on Hwy 94/State Road 2 as crews reinforce containment lines and mop up hot spots.

A fast-moving wildfire has scorched close to 4,000 acres near the Florida-Georgia border.

A rapidly spreading brush fire along Moody Avenue in Clay County has prompted urgent evacuations, as fire rescue units and the Florida Forest Service battle the blaze amid strong winds and dry conditions.

A wildfire that broke out on Sunday in Charlton County and spread an estimated 600 acres is 100% contained in Southeast Georgia, according to the Georgia Forest Commission.

Evacuation orders issued for some Charlton County homes as fire crews responded to a wildfire that broke out on Sunday afternoon have been lifted.

Crews from the Florida Forest Service and Putnam County fire rescue responded to a fast-moving wildfire north of Bardin Thursday afternoon.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department on Saturday responded to a brush fire on Old Gainesville Road that threatened nearby structures, including a grocery store.

A rare red flag warning was issued Thursday for parts of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, as gusty winds, very low humidity and severe to extreme drought created conditions that can quickly spark new wildfires or cause existing fires to spread.

Days after having to close two schools in Interlachen because smoke from a wildfire had reduced visibility to “essentially zero,” the Putnam County School District announced another closure on Friday.

A brush fire in Baker County overnight is causing some lane closures on I-10, according to transportation officials.

A wildfire that threatened homes and forced evacuations in Baker County is now mostly contained after burning more than 120 acres Wednesday afternoon.

The Florida Highway Patrol said on Wednesday it is monitoring a brush fire that’s over 100 acres in the area of I-10 at MM329 in Baker County.

Heavy smoke in Putnam County Wednesday morning prompted the closure of multiple roads, which then led to two schools canceling classes to keep bus drivers and parents off the dangerous roads.

Both directions of State Road 20 in Putnam County were closed early Wednesday due to “extremely heavy smoke in the area,” prompting Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Elementary and Interlachen Jr.–Sr. High School to close for the day, according to the sheriff’s office.

Putnam County Fire Rescue is responding to a 200-acre wildfire at Robert’s Ranch.

Forecasters are warning that the potential for wildfires will be above normal in some areas across the United States over the coming months as temperatures rise and rain becomes sparse.

A massive wildfire that broke out in Nassau County last week is now 95% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service (FFS).

Nassau County fire crews and law enforcement continued working to put out a massive wildfire in a rural area west of Bryceville on Friday.

Officials had warned early Wednesday that warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds increased the risk of fire danger.

On Sunday afternoon, the Florida Highway Patrol reported the wildfire near U.S. 301 and Poder Place. Troopers were monitoring a wildfire Sunday in Nassau County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The wildfire was reported near U.S. 301 and Poder Place. As of 4:15 p.m. according to the Highway Patrol, there was smoke in the area, but there were no visibility issues. Troopers also reminded drivers to reduce their speed as necessary and to utilize their low beam headlights to adapt to changing weather conditions.

Researchers say smoke from wildfires accounted for up to half of all small particle air pollution in parts of the western U.S. in recent years (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)BILLINGS, Mont. – Wildfire smoke accounted for up to half of all health-damaging small particle air pollution in the western U.S. in recent years as warming temperatures fueled more destructive blazes, according to a study released Monday. Nationwide, wildfires were the source of up to 25% of small particle pollution in some years, the researchers said. But it’s difficult to separate how much of the increase in smoke pollution is driven by climate change versus the forest fuel buildup, she added. The new study matches up with previous research documenting the increasing proportion of pollution that comes from wildfire smoke, said Dan Jaffe, a wildfire pollution expert at the University of Washington.

An recently burned area at the Encontro das Aguas park at the Pantanal wetlands near Pocone, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. Wildfire has infiltrated the park as the number of fires at the world's biggest tropical wetlands has more than doubled in the first half of 2020, according to data released by a state institute. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)BRASILIA – A vast swath of a vital wetlands is burning in Brazil, sweeping across several national parks and obscuring the sun behind dense smoke. From January through August, the number of fires more than tripled, topping 10,000. On Friday, Brazil's navy used a helicopter to rescue a burned jaguar cub and take it to a veterinary hospital.

The fire, named West Power Line Fire," started just west of Highway 301 and Big Oaks Road in Nassau County. The FFS said it has four tractor plow units working to contain the fire and its containment, as of 6:45 p.m. was at 80%. Crews have successfully placed a firebreak line around the fire, FFS said, and no structures are being threatened. In an update Saturday evening FFS said they were no longer worried about the fire due to the rain and the effective line. Crews are no longer actively working the scene, but if you are in the area, FFS asks to please exercise caution.

NAPLES, Fla. A large brush fire that has destroyed 12 homes continued to burn in southwest Florida on Tuesday morning, officials said. The 36th Avenue Southeast fire in Collier County was 60% contained on Tuesday, the Florida Forest Service said. The brush fire began in Golden Gate Estates on May 13 as separate brush fires, the Naples Daily News reported. Last week portions of the county were placed under evacuation orders as the fires spread. Agriculture Commissioners Nikki Fried said during a news conference on Monday in Collier County that residents should remain alert and have a bag of important documents read in case additional evacuation orders were issued.

NAPLES, Fla. A large brush fire in southwest Florida has destroyed 12 homes and damaged 33 others, officials said during a Monday news conference with the agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried. The 8,000-acre fire in Collier County is about 50% contained, officials said. The Florida Forest Service said Sunday that 146 firefighters were working to contain the fire, which started last week as four smaller brush fires that merged together. Fried reminded residents in Florida to remain vigilant since the state is at the height of fire season. If you think you are going to defend your house with a garden hose, you are gravely mistaken," she said.

NAPLES, Fla. At least seven homes and 23 other structures have been destroyed by a massive wildfire that continues to burn in southwest Florida, officials said. Greater Naples Fire Rescue District Chief Kingman Schuldt said during a news conference Friday that workers were surveying the area east of Naples. Florida Forest Service incident commander John Kern said the 8,663-acre (3,506-hectare) wildfire was about 40% contained. Shortly after the fires were reported Wednesday, Florida Highway Patrol shut down a section of Alligator Alley because of smoke. Alligator Alley extends from near Naples on Floridas Gulf Coast, to Broward County in South Florida.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Wildfire season is here and in full effect with the West Mims wildfire consuming 225 square miles along the Florida-Georgia border and expected to rage on for months. Follow these tips to reduce your risk from wildfire. Each of us can play a role in making our communities safer from wildfire. Practice using both evacuation routes in case one is blocked by smoke or fire. Wildfire burned more than 5.5 million acres in the U.S. last year.