Wildfire updates: Fire doesn’t spread, 64% contained

After Saturday, May 3, go to these sites for updates from the Highway 82 fire area.

The fire began on Monday, April 20. The entire state of Georgia is in a drought; Brantley County remains in an exceptional drought. Due to these drought conditions and hot and dry weather, this fire continues to be a dynamic, changing situation, challenging firefighting efforts. As of Saturday, May 2, containment work on the perimeters continued as crews added secondary fire breaks and addressed hot spots after the rain moved through.

---

Containment now at 64%; re-entry updates

Updated at 9:24 p.m. Saturday, May 3

At 6 p.m., Saturday, officials report 64% containment with 22,532 acres involved.

From the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office:

Officials continue to caution travelers and residents: The fire is not out. There is still heat and smoldering throughout the area. You may see smoke or areas with potential for re-burn.

• Residents in Zones 31, 32, 33, & 34 (North Side of 32) are approved to return home.
• Hwy 32 is open from 301 to 110W and from Post Road to Browntown Road

Please use caution when returning home. Be aware of any hazards, follow guidance from local officials, and take your time as you re-enter the area.

Road Updates:

• GA 110W is open to through traffic (Use caution — could be lane reductions)
• Browntown Road is open to through traffic

Fire personnel and equipment remain actively working—please use caution and stay aware.

Saturday event set for fire victims

A Multiagency Information Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Atkinson Elementary School Gym, 4327 Highway 110, Waynesville.

The single location will be set up for people impacted by the fires to speak directly to organization and agency representatives to help. Free transportation is available.

Groups include:

• Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA)
• Faith-based organizations
• American Red Cross
• Local school system
• Board of Commissioners representatives
• Family Connection

Transportation pickup, times

Three buses will be running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2. Pickup spots:

• 8:15–8:30 a.m. Hwy 82 / Browntown
• Friendly Express #95, 25137 Hwy 82, Waynesville
• 8:15–8:30 a.m. Satilla Grocery Parking Lot, 21300 Hwy 82, Waynesville
• 8:00–8:15 a.m. Post Road / Albert Gibson
• Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 11721 Post Road, Hortense
• 8:20–8:30 a.m. Post Road / Hwy 82 Friendly Express, 26915 Hwy 82, Waynesville
• Arrival – Atkinson Elementary School Gym, 4327 Highway 110 Waynesville

Crews work containment lines, mop up hot spots

Updated 4:25 p.m. Thursday, April 30

Officials say firefighters are now focused on finding and eliminating hot spots around containment lines for the Highway 82 fire. While there has been no new spread, containment is at 33%. Crews are building alternate and secondary fire breaks and working to cut down hazardous trees weakened by the heat. State Department of Natural Resourcces biologists are working to identify and flag endangered plant species on state lands to prevent unintentional impacts.

Brantley Sheriff’s Office has updated re-entry information for residents and land owners. Residents in Zone 11 (Southern Browntown) may return home. This includes Mineral Springs Road, Connie Lane, Southern portions of Browntown Road. From Browntown south of Murphy Road will be open and from Browntown north of Murphy Road will be closed.

Roads: GA 110W is restricted to pass entry and residents only, and GA 32 is open to 110W. No through traffic or semi-trucks allowed.

Message from the sheriff’s office:

“Community — as we begin to return home, we understand how hard it is to sit and wait—especially when you’re ready to start putting things back together. The instinct to clean up right away is completely natural.

“However, we encourage everyone to hold off on debris removal and cleanup for now. Damage assessments are still actively underway, and clearing debris too soon can make it difficult to accurately document losses. That documentation is critical and could directly impact your eligibility for financial assistance and recovery support.

“Once assessments are complete and cleanup can safely begin, the County will open the transfer station for debris disposal at no cost to residents. The transfer station is expected to open within a week. We will share those details as soon as they are finalized.

“In the meantime, please continue to monitor the Sheriff’s Office page for updates, including when assessments are complete and cleanup operations can officially resume.

“We know this is frustrating—but taking this step now helps ensure you receive the support you may need moving forward.”

Fire doesn’t spread overnight; 32% contained

Updated 8:54 a.m. Wednesday, April 29

The Highway 82 fire did not spread overnight, officials reported Wednesday morning. It is currently at 22,601 acres and 32% contained. Firefighters continue to make progress but persistent hot spots remain worrisome.

Crews continue patrolling the fire perimeter to look for hidden heat sources and extinguishing hot spots to maintain progress. Here’s a video explaining the problem spots and why they still pose a problem.

In an evening report from the fire command composed of the Georgia Forestry Commission, the federal Southern Area Incident Management Team and the Brantley County Sheriff, the crews are working with timber companies Rayonier and Weyerhaeuser. Rayonier is providing some equipment. Currently, for the Highway 82 fire resources include: 470 workers, 5 helicopters, 4 crews, 41 fire engines, 5 tractor plows and 17 dozers.

Brantley sheriff releases re-entry rules, road access

4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28

Limited re-entry is now being allowed with specific guidelines for residents who have a placard for GA 110 W or are returning to voluntary evacuation areas. Many road closures are still in place.

RE-ENTRY PROCESS

• Show proof of residence
• Follow all road closures and barricades
• Keep children under 18 with an adult at all times
• Be ready to leave again if conditions change

Placard pickup, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Placards are required for GA 110 W residents. There are no limits per home.

Pickup locations:

• Satilla Grocery / GA 259
• GA Hwy 32 & GA 301 (west side of GA 301, open lot)

LIMITED RE-ENTRY AREAS

GA 110 Corridor (GA 110 West residents)

• Residents only may enter with a placard
• Area remains restricted to the public
• No commercial vehicles allowed

Post Road area

• Post Road is open
• Albert Gibson is open from Post Road; Closed at Boots Harrison to Browntown Road
• Murphy Road is open from Post Road; Closed at Mineral Springs

ROAD CLOSURES AND ACCESS

• Mineral Springs – CLOSED
• Boots Harrison – CLOSED
• Mumford Road – CLOSED
• Crandall Road – CLOSED
• Hawthorne Road – CLOSED
• Browntown Road — CLOSED — (from US 82 to Wayne County line)
• GA 32 from Highway 110W to Browntown Road — CLOSED

Restricted GA 32 Access – residents only

• GA 32 from GA 301 to GA 110 West
• GA 32 – Post Road to Browntown Road NE (north of GA 32, east of Browntown Rd)

Placard Access Only

• GA 110 West from US 82 to GA 32

Wayne County Closure

• Mt. Pleasant Road (where Browntown Road transitions at Wayne County line) is closed to Mobile Road.

Brantley schools remain closed

4 p.m. Tuesday, April 28

The Brantley County School system will remain closed for students through Friday, according to a notice on the system’s social media page. Employees should plan to return on Thursday, April 30. Parents ad students should monitor text and Facebook for updates. WPS and AES workers will be contacted directly with specific information.

Glynn reports some closures, continued vigilance

Noon, Tuesday, April 28

Some roads near the Glynn-Brantley border remain closed due to the Highway 82 fire concentrated in Brantley and residents of western Glynn are advised to be vigilant, according to a release from Glynn County Commission at noon Tuesday.

GA 32 between GA 301 and GA 99 remains closed. Residents are asked to avoid this area so emergency personnel can operate safely and efficiently. Additional closures may be implemented if necessary.

All previously identified evacuation areas, including those downgraded from mandatory status, remain under a voluntary evacuation order. Residents should not become complacent; this fire is not over.

Everyone in affected areas must remain prepared to act quickly if conditions change. Conditions can escalate with little notice if fire behavior intensifies, winds shift, or new hazards emerge, and officials may reinstate stricter measures without delay to protect lives and property.

Residents are reminded that Glynn County remains under a local burn ban, and outdoor burning and the use of personal fireworks are strictly prohibited. Violations will result in enforcement action, including fines.

For all wildfire-related information, including real-time interactive maps, visit www.glynncounty.org/wildfires.

Brantley crews report overnight progress

11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 28

Information is flowing in various ways from the federal Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office. Here’s the morning update.

The Highway 82 fire is 22,600 acres and 32% contained. It is impacting the communities of Atkinson and Waynesville.

From the official update: Crews had a very good night last night around the Highway 82 Fire with excellent humidity recovery and lower temperatures. Engines were out overnight extinguishing hot spots around structures and dozer lines.

Today, firefighters will be continuing to improve roads and lines on Rayonier lands to the north of GA 32 between Fendig and Browntown Road. Along the Highway 110 corridor from Fendig road down to Campbell and Stewart roads, firefighters continue to identify all areas of heat and extinguishing them, focusing around structures. Improving and widening containment lines west of Boots Harrison road will continue and tractor plows and dozers will add containment lines between Boots Harrison and Post roads. Firefighters and engines will work to extinguish hot spots as vegetation continues to dry back out after the rain on Sunday night. Around the entire fire area, firefighters will be identifying and removing trees that are weakened and removing any that could impact homes, roadways and containment.

Weather: Warm weather returns which will continue to dry vegetation across the fire area. High pressure will bring light southeasterly winds. Temperatures are expected to be 10 degrees warmer with highs in the mid 80s. Afternoon humidity will trend lower with a minimum near 40%.

Firefighters are expecting to see an increase in smoke as the heavy fuels become more active burning. Fire spread will be within the fire lines burning in pockets of unburned light fuels. This increase in activity will expose any weakness in the line or spots outside the control line.

Roads: Georgia Department of Transportation and Georgia State Patrol are closely monitoring the smoke and fog conditions along roadways to maintain public safety along the highway. There is the potential for intermittent closures of US 82 and GA 110 if visibility conditions deteriorate. Additionally, there are a significant number of road closures around the fire impacted area. Please heed all road closure barricades and direction from law enforcement on scene.

No fly zone: There is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over the fire area to avoid conflict between personal aircraft and firefighting efforts. This includes all recreational and professional unmanned aircraft (drones).

Clinch County/Pineland fire at 23% containment

According to Tuesday morning official reports, the Pineland fire has grown to 32,541 acres with 23% containment. Mandatory evacuations in Echols County affect 140 citizens.

Crews are working around the clock building, reinforcing, and securing containment lines along GA 94 to the north, US 441 to the west, Thelma Headlight Road to the south, and Will Rewis Road to the east.

A total of 165 personnel and 55 resources — including engines, heavy equipment, and overhead support — are currently assigned to the incident, supported by state, federal, and cooperating partners. A total of 165 personnel and 55 resources — including engines, heavy equipment, and overhead support — are currently assigned to the incident, supported by state, federal, and cooperating partners.

Roads: In Echols County, Pineland Road, Gopher Lope Road, Register, Worth Lane, Joes Lane, Will Rewis Road, New Barnes Road, Gaddis Road, King Road, Jesse Lane, May Lane, Chauncey Road, Hendley Road. In Clinch County, Colon Road, Mud Camp Road, Mattox Ford Road, Headlight Road.

Brantley sheriff sets guide for re-entry

From the Brantley Sheriff’s office, 5 p.m. Monday: Brantley County Sheriff’s Office is adjusting road closures and evacuation orders. These changes do not mean that the Highway 82 fire is out, however, we understand that there is a need to get folks back to their property during this break in the fire weather. Anyone re-entering these areas around the Highway 82 fire should be prepared to evacuate again if conditions change.

• Re-entry into residences along GA 110 corridor will be required to show proof of residence at Satilla Grocery/GA 259 or GA 32/301 intersection at the open lot on the west side of 301 where they will be issued a placard so that they can come and go in this voluntary evacuation.

• Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an adult in this voluntary evacuation area at all times.

• GA 110: No commercial vehicles.

• Entry for residents only (residents will be issued a placard)

Glynn downgrades to voluntary evacuations

From Glynn Fire, 5 p.m. Monday: Based on the westerly trajectory of the wind and updated fire behavior assessments, the fire is moving away from Glynn County at this time.
Given these conditions, Glynn County is downgrading the current mandatory evacuation order to a voluntary evacuation for the following areas:
• Old Post Road to GA 32
• GA 32 to Thalman Park Lane
• Thalman Park Lane to Bladen Road
• Bladen Road to Old Post Road
This recommendation comes from the Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team and is consistent with Glynn County’s current assessment.
Residents should understand that this status may change if fire behavior shifts, wind direction changes, or if additional closures are required.

Voluntary evacuation areas: Alpine Road, Gilley Road, Boones Branch Road, Sallie Cline Road, Mauney Street, Chelsea Circle, Post Road north of US 82, and Old Post Road north of GA 32 also remain in effect.
Residents in all affected areas should continue to follow guidance from local officials and be prepared for changing conditions.

Now open: Old Post Road at US 82 and GA 32, Thalman Park Lane at GA 32, and Bladen Road at GA 99.

Roads still closed: GA 32 between GA 301 and GA 99 and GA 110 between GA 32 and US 82 will remain closed. These roadways are maintained by the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Status and forecast: Last night at approximately 8 p.m., an isolated thunderstorm moved across the entire fire area. Rain gauges recorded between 0.4 and 0.8 inches.
While this rainfall does not extinguish the fire, it has provided firefighters with meaningful relief from the extreme fire behavior observed in recent days.
Winds Monday will be from the northeast and shift to the east tonight and Tuesday. These wind patterns will continue to push fire activity away from Glynn County. The wind shifting to the northeast will push on the western side of the fire along GA 110.
The wildfire is currently estimated at 22,615 acres and is 6 percent contained.
For all wildfire‑related information, including real‑time interactive maps, visit www.glynncounty.org/wildfires.

State offers help for jobs lost to fire

The Georgia Department of Labor has opened a new portal for South Georgia residents whose jobs have been affected by these fires may be eligible to apply for regular state unemployment insurance benefits.

To apply for assistance, visit your nearest career center or apply through the MyUI Claimant portal.