The Pineland Road Fire burning across Clinch and Echols counties has scorched 32,575 acres and is now 44% contained — up from 39% as of Thursday.
What’s happening: The fire is pushing through dense, dry brush and low-lying shrub areas. Fuel conditions are extremely dry and the fire is proving hard to control. Crews are focused on keeping it inside a defined boundary: north of Highway 94, west of U.S. 441, south of Thelma Headlight Road, and east of Will Rewis Road.
By the numbers: 267 people are working the fire, backed by 91 pieces of equipment — including bulldozers, tractor-plows, water tankers, and aircraft.
Bigger picture: The Pineland Road Fire is one of two large wildfires still burning in south Georgia. The Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County has burned 22,532 acres and hit 45% containment Saturday as rain moved in. Eight more wildfires broke out across Georgia on Thursday, burning a combined 54.64 acres. The entire state is in drought, and south Georgia is in an exceptional drought — the most severe level recognized by forecasters.
Rules still in effect: A burn ban covers all of south Georgia. No drones — recreational or professional — may fly over active fire areas.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
