Massive Wildfires Rage In Georgia And Florida, Only 10% Contained

Fires are ravaging the southern parts of Georgia.

Two major wildfires have broken out in the state of Georgia, and only 10% of the fires are currently contained.

The fires have prompted authorities to issue evacuations for some residents, as firefighters are unable to stop them due to high winds and humidity.

Here are some of the scenes:

Georgia: The Pineland Road has drastically grown in size to 16,500+ acres in Clinch county. The entire town of Fruitland, Georgia has been ordered to evacuate this afternoon.

The Brantley Highway Fire, also in Georgia, has grown to 5,000 acres. Burn bans are now in effect, and… pic.twitter.com/btqSRZYAZC

— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) April 22, 2026

The aftermath:

Fast-moving wildfires in southern Georgia have destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundreds of evacuations. Officials say they only have about 10% of the blaze contained. @SkylerHenry has a look at the destruction in Waynesville, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/Ftm5iKdTfP

— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 23, 2026

11Alive provided the latest update on the blaze:

Two major wildfires continue to burn and wreak havoc across south Georgia, charring more than 34,600 acres combined and threatening homes as firefighters struggle against extreme weather and difficult terrain.

The largest blaze, the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County, has grown to an estimated 29,606 acres and is just 10% contained as of April 22. Crews with the Georgia Forestry Commission and partner agencies are working to build and reinforce fire lines, but officials said dry conditions and swampy terrain are making containment difficult.

Authorities report the fire is burning through bays and wetlands, with spot fires continuing to emerge. About 89 personnel are assigned to the fire, using engines, water tenders and bulldozers to try to slow its spread. Smoke from the blaze is expected to impact nearby communities including Valdosta, Homerville and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, the Highway 82 Fire, which began in Brantley County, has burned roughly 5,000 acres and is 15% contained. Officials said 48 homes have already been destroyed, and an estimated 1,000 more remain at risk.

Fire behavior in both incidents has been described as “extreme,” with wind-driven runs, group torching and spot fires igniting ahead of the main flames. The region is under exceptional drought conditions, with humidity levels dipping below 20% and high fire danger indicators fueling continued growth.

Firefighters are also facing major challenges accessing impacted areas due to dense vegetation and swamp conditions, limiting where equipment can be deployed.

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The fires have also stretched out to Florida:

Wildfires burning across the southeastern U.S. were intensifying today. Some of the biggest blazes are along Georgia’s coast and around Jacksonville, Florida, a state that is facing one of its worst fire seasons in decades. In South Florida, a large fire was burning in the… pic.twitter.com/I78yG4vAtk

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 22, 2026

AP reported it’s one of the worst Florida wildfires in the last three decades:

In Florida, firefighters battled more than 130 wildfires that burned 39 square miles (101 square kilometers), mostly in the state’s northern half.

“Florida has got one of the worst fire seasons in maybe the last 30 or 40 years, or it’s turning out to be that way,” state Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said. “We’ve been in drought for 18 months now all across the state.”

Smoke blows into Atlanta and Jacksonville
The National Weather Service said a dangerous combination of low humidity and breezy winds would keep the fire danger elevated Wednesday.

Smoke drifted to Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida. The air quality in parts of south Georgia declined to the unhealthy category, meaning all people there might feel health effects.

Smoky conditions were expected to linger throughout the Atlanta area, according to the Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency. The worst fires were more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) southeast of the city.

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