Georgia governor, Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in 91 counties as massive wildfires swept across Georgia, destroying over 120 homes in what officials call the worst property damage from a single fire event in the state’s history.
The two largest blazes; the Highway 82 and Pineland Road fires, caused by a party balloon and a welder’s torch have burned more than 39,500 acres and are part of a wider wave of fires affecting nearby states including Florida, South Carolina, and Alabama.
No deaths were reported in Georgia, but a firefighter died while battling a separate blaze in Florida. Authorities say extreme drought, worsened by dry conditions following heavy vegetation growth after Hurricane Helene, has made the region highly vulnerable.
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Firefighters are struggling to contain the flames, with only about 10% of the major fires under control and nearly 1,000 homes still at risk. A 30-day ban on outdoor burning has been imposed to prevent further outbreaks.