ENVIRONMENT

Governor Kemp declares emergency amid Georgia wildfire surge

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ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Wednesday for 91 Georgia counties, ordered the Georgia Forestry Commission and related agencies to mobilize all necessary resources, and the state forester issued a broad outdoor burn ban to reduce wildfire spread amid extreme drought, while air assets and National Guard personnel were activated for response efforts. The 30-day emergency order allows the Georgia Department of Defense to deploy Guardsmen and air assets and includes anti-price-gouging measures; this week smoke from multiple south Georgia fires reduced air quality across the region, prompting a Code Orange alert in metro Atlanta Thursday and reporting containment at roughly 10 percent in Clinch County and 15 percent in Brantley County.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Persistent drought raised wildfire risk across Georgia earlier this season.
State forester issued a burn ban covering 91 counties early Wednesday.
Gov. Brian Kemp declared a 30-day state of emergency Wednesday for 91 counties.
Georgia National Guard air assets and Guardsmen were activated and deployed to affected areas.
Smoke drifted north, prompting a Code Orange air quality alert in metro Atlanta Thursday.

Why This Matters to You

Wildfires can affect your health and safety. Smoke from these fires has already triggered a Code Orange air quality alert in Atlanta. If you're in the affected counties, limit outdoor activities. Check local news for updates on air quality and evacuation orders.

The Bottom Line

Georgia is battling wildfires due to extreme drought. With containment still low, the situation is serious. Gov. Kemp's emergency declaration mobilizes resources to fight the fires and protect residents. If you know someone in Georgia, it's worth forwarding this information to them.