Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Good morning! Today we’re keeping you updated on the South Georgia wildfires as well as how to help those affected by them. We also have a reminder about when it’s OK to water your lawn and a story about a possible comeback for solar energy on farms.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
COMMUNITY: NEWS
Stay up to date on wildfires
The Current GA continues to post updates from the Highway 82 wildfire in Brantley County.
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.
Want to help but aren’t sure how? On Tuesday, officials recommended several donation points for specifics goods. Read that story here.
PUBLIC SAFETY: NEWS
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) visited the area affected by the Highway 82 fire in Brantley County, which began after a Mylar balloon struck a power line. The fire has destroyed over 100 homes and more than 22,000 acres of forest land. Warnock is focused on the federal response, but FEMA’s ability to support state-led wildfire fighting efforts is limited due to the partial government shutdown, as The Current GA’s Mary Landers reports.
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
How to water in drought
In response to ongoing drought, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division is requiring public water systems across the state to inform their customers about drought, its impact on water supplies, and the need for water conservation. The EPD is not imposing any new restrictions on water use, but it is reiterating restrictions in place since 2010 when the Georgia Water Stewardship Act went into effect statewide. The law allows daily outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants only between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. by anyone whose water is supplied by a water system permitted by the EPD.
Savannah has had a more restrictive outdoor watering schedule in place since 2006. It prescribes watering for even-numbered addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. There’s no outdoor watering on Fridays.
ANALYSIS: ENVIRONMENT
Energy independence on the farm
President Donald Trump has dealt blow after blow to the Rural Energy for America Program, which has helped farmers save on their energy bills by going solar for nearly two decades. Now, REAP’s proponents see a chance to undo some of the damage with the next Farm Bill, as Kari Lydersen of Canary Media reports.
Also noted
Ogeechee Riverkeeper Damon Mullis presented a slide show about data centers to the Bulloch County Commission earlier this month, as Al Hackle of the Statesboro Herald reports.
Hyundai Motor America awarded $10,00 to the Bryan County High School team that won the Georgia Hydrogen Grand Prix, an endurance race for student-built remote controlled vehicles. The award will support their attendance at the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix World Championship in Bulle, Switzerland, this summer.
Join the Georgia Conservancy for a virtual webinar from noon to 1:30 p.m. May 8 to learn about the state of right whale conservation, proposed regulatory changes, and the technology being used to help save these animals. Learn more and register here.
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Wildfire updates: Overnight progress, 32% containment
Updates from fires, officials, road closures, and other pertinent info about South Georgia wildfires.
Warnock meets with fire fighters, residents in Brantley County
U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) toured the fire-ravaged area of Brantley County and is focused on the federal response to the Highway 82 fire, which has destroyed 100 homes and 22,000 acres of forest land.
Trump is blocking solar for farmers. Can the Farm Bill fix that?
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has been hindered by the Trump administration, but proponents are hopeful that the Farm Bill will provide a pathway to restore and protect the popular, bipartisan initiative.
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