Wildfires in Clinch and Brantley counties have blanketed areas of Coastal Georgia with smoke and are expected to continue to make air quality unhealthy in parts of the coast.
Gov. Brian P. Kemp declared a State of Emergency on April 22 for 91 South Georgia counties in response to the ongoing wildfires. The Georgia Forestry Commission and other relevant state agencies have been mobilized to assist with active response efforts. The State of Emergency, found here, will remain in effect for 30 days, unless otherwise renewed.
The Brantley Highway 82 fire reached nearly 4,000 acres by Wednesday and was just 10% contained, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. It has claimed 54 dwellings, according to County Manager Joey Cason. The Pinelands Road fire in Clinch County, near the Florida border, began over the weekend and has since spread over 16,000 acres. It is also just 10% contained.
The Coastal Health District is encouraging residents to take precautions. Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick, but some people area at higher risk. Those include individuals with chronic conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or heart disease. Pregnant women, children, and first responders are also at higher risk.
The Coastal Health District offers these tips if wildfire smoke is impacting your area:
- Stay inside and away from the smoke.
- Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one but keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. You can also use fans inside the home to help stay cool.
- Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution such as smoking or vaping, spraying aerosol products, burning candles or incense, or vacuuming unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter.
- Keep airways moist by drinking plenty of water.
- Follow the advice of your health care provider about medicines and your respiratory management plan if you have asthma, COPD, or any other lung or heart disease. Seek medical attention if you are having difficulty breathing or if your symptoms worsen.
According to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, as of Wednesday morning, April 22, the air quality index in the Glynn County area was labeled as unhealthy, meaning everyone in the area may experience health effects. The air quality index in the Chatham County area was labeled as moderate, meaning some pollutants may be a moderate health concern for people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Residents are encouraged to monitor messages from their local county emergency management agency. Air quality index reports are also available online at airgeorgia.org.
A Burn Ban Order, also issued Wednesday, is in effect for the same 91 counties and will remain in effect for 30 days, unless otherwise extended. It prohibits prescribed burns as well as the burning of yard debris and agricultural material in the affected area.
Stay updated
For current wildfire information and emergency updates, visit gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/.
A live-time map of the active fires and response can be found here.
The National Weather Service provides a smoke forecast here. The map below shows the forecast for the Coastal Georgia for April 23, 2026.
The online Purple Air map displays a network of community-owned, Purple Air sensors. Each sensor uploads data to the Purple Air map in real time. To use the map, log on to map.purpleair.com and use the search bar, located in the upper right hand corner to
search a location. From there, click on a point to see that sensor’s name and data.
Find directions to sign up for your coastal county’s emergency alerts, including Code Red alerts, here.
How to help
Community members wishing to support those affected by the fires are encouraged to donate through established organizations, Glynn County spokeswoman Brittany Dozier suggested.
In Brantley County, all donations are currently being coordinated through Georgia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, which partners with organizations such as the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army to ensure resources are distributed efficiently.
Outside of Brantley County, Waynesville Missionary Baptist Church at 25486 Hwy 82
Waynesville, a member of the Golden Isles Disaster Faith Network, is accepting bottled water and non-perishable items.
You must be logged in to post a comment.