Four more groups of residents forced out by the Highway 82 wildfire in Brantley County can go home Saturday evening.
Who can return: The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office says people in Zones 31, 32, 33, and 34 — all on the north side of Highway 32 — are cleared to head back.
Road updates: Highway 32 is open from Highway 301 to Highway 110W and from Post Road to Browntown Road. Highway 110W is now open to all traffic, though drivers should expect possible lane reductions. Browntown Road is also open to all traffic.
The fire is still burning: The fire is not out. Heat and smoldering are still present across the area. People going home may see smoke or spots where the fire could flare back up. Firefighters and equipment are still actively working throughout the area.
Catch up quick: The Highway 82 wildfire started April 20 near the communities of Atkinson and Waynesville. State investigators say a Mylar balloon hit a power line, sending a burst of electricity into nearby vegetation and starting the fire. It has burned 22,532 acres and was 45% contained as of Saturday morning. Brantley County is in an exceptional drought — the most severe level recognized by forecasters.
Still in effect: A mandatory curfew runs from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. across parts of Brantley County. A burn ban covers all of south Georgia. No drones — recreational or professional — may fly over the fire area.
Need shelter: A Red Cross shelter is open in Brunswick at 100 Genoa Martin Drive at the Selden Park Complex. Call 1-800-Red-Cross for information.
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.
