Overview
- Fire leaders reported Tuesday that the Highway 82 blaze in Brantley County reached about 32% containment at roughly 22,600 acres, while the larger Pineland Road fire in Clinch and Echols stood near 23% containment at about 32,500 acres.
- Officials lifted evacuation orders for roughly 1,500 Brantley County residents after progress on lines, though about 2,500 people remained displaced and some returns required placards and readiness to leave again if winds shift.
- Gov. Brian Kemp toured the burn zones Tuesday and urged vigilance as crews said the weekend’s rain slowed spread long enough to widen firebreaks but was far from enough to put the fires out.
- State investigators said the Brantley fire likely started when a foil party balloon hit power lines and the Clinch fire began from welding sparks, with extreme drought and gusty winds driving rapid growth.
- More than 400 personnel and Georgia National Guard aircraft have been engaged, with about a half‑million gallons of water dropped and a pivot underway to more dozer and engine work, and officials warned the fires could persist without several inches of additional rain.