Georgia wildfires continue growing, Florida firefighter dies, how Hwy 82 fire started
A volunteer firefighter in Hilliard, Florida, died battling a wildfire, while more than 120 homes were destroyed in southeast Georgia and thousands more remain threatened. This is the most homes Georgia has ever lost to wildfires in state history, Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday.
Around noon Saturday, the Brantley County Sheriff ordered further evacuations for Browntown Road, from Highway 82 to Highway 32. “LEAVE NOW,” a social media post from the sheriff’s office said.
The wildfire on U.S. Highway 82 grew overnight to approximately 9,572 acres, a few thousand acres larger than the day before. The Georgia Forestry Commission said the fire was 10 percent contained.
This fire destroyed approximately 87 homes and businesses Saturday morning.
The Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County has grown from a few hundred acres to about 31,976 acres, the Georgia Forestry Commission said Friday. More than 30 houses were destroyed there.
Homes destroyed in current wildfires, largest in Georgia history
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who toured much of the burned areas in the southern part of the state on Friday, said the 120 homes lost to wildfires in Brantley and Clinch counties are a record in state history.
“The two fires we’re fighting, among many in Georgia, … the Pineland fire and the Highway 82 fire, ranked No. 1 and 2 in the country,” Kemp said during a press briefing Friday at the Waycross-Ware County Airport. “So we had the two most dangerous, largest, most problematic fires in the United States in the small area that we have to fight. It’s a lot for us to handle.”
WATCH: Governor Brian Kemp provides update on Georgia wildfires
How the Brantley Co. Fire Started
Authorities said the wildfire in Brantley County was started by a balloon from a children’s birthday party that landed on a power line and created an arc that caught the ground on fire.
Volunteer firefighter dies in northeast Florida
The Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department in Nassau County lost one of its members battling a fire Thursday. James “Kevin” Crews was fighting the Old Dixie Highway fire just south of Henry Smith Road in Hilliard when he began experiencing a medical emergency, a city news release said Friday.
He was taken to UF Health on New Kings Road for further treatment and died at the hospital.
The teams of volunteer firefighter Hilliard, James “Kevin”
Northeast Florida
Baker County
-
Sargent Fire – 2,523 acres, 81% contained
Bradford County
-
Deden Fire – 180 acres, 50% contained
Columbia County
-
Shooting Range – 129 acres, 50% contained
Clay, Putnam Counties
-
Railroad Fire – 4,743 acres, 70% contained
Putnam County
-
Pace Court Fire – 343 acres, 85% contained
-
Mondex 3 Fire – 300 acres, 30% contained
CLICK HERE to view the Georgia Forestry Commission’s interactive wildfire map
Florida wildfire map, 04/25/2026
Southeast Georgia
Brantley County
-
Highway 82 Fire – 9,572 acres, 10% contained
Mandatory evacuations:
-
Browntown Road, from Highway 82 to Greenleaf Road
-
GA-110 (Yellow Pine Road) to Thrower Road
-
From Thrower Road to Mossy Oak
-
Highway 110, from Highway 32 to Lane Cemetery Road, to include Lisa Lane to the Satilla River.
Voluntary evacuation
-
US 301 from the county line to Rowell Road west of Highway 110, north to Highway 32, and east of Highway 110 to the county line.
State of emergency in Glynn County
Glynn County has declared a local state of emergency to ensure resources can be deployed without delay.
Glynn County officials are urging residents living between Highway 82 and Highway 32, from Old Post Road to Highway 99, as well as those living on and between Old Post Road and Buck Swamp Road, south of Highway 82, to review emergency plans and gather essential items in case conditions worsen and they need to evacuate.
Clinch County
-
Pineland Road Fire – 31,976 acres, 10% contained.
CLICK HERE to view the Georgia Forestry Commission’s interactive wildfire map
Georgia wildfire map, 04/25/2026
A firefighter works on the Brantley Highway 82 fire Thursday, April 23, 2026, near Nahunta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A fire burns as the Brantley Highway 82 Fire burns, Thursday, April 23, 2026, near Nahunta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A burned vehicle stands near a destroyed home as the Brantley Highway 82 Fire burns, Thursday, April 23, 2026, near Nahunta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Fire crews and their trucks gather at the Brantley County Airport as they work the Brantley Highway 82 fire, Thursday, April 23, 2026, near Nahunta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Firefighters monitor a wildfire in Georgia.
>>> STREAM JAX LIVE ACTION NEWS <<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, Click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and Click here to stream Action News Jax live.
