About 170 fires in Georgia and Florida cause evacuations and destroy 49 homes

Miami (USA).- About 170 fires in Georgia and Florida have caused damage to around fifty homes and generated hundreds of evacuations, and threaten this Thursday a large border area between both states due to the prolonged drought, low humidity and strong winds. The state governor, Brian Kemp, has declared a state of emergency in 91 counties in response to the rapid spread of fires in the south. “We are praying for the families who have lost their homes in these devastating conditions, as well as for the first responders who are working tirelessly,” he declared. The most affected areas are concentrated in Brantley and Clinch counties, where the most intense fires have destroyed about 49 homes and threaten nearly a thousand additional homes. In Brantley County, a fire has spread to more than 17.8 square kilometers, according to local authorities. Residents are being evacuated, dozens of homes have been destroyed, and school classes have been canceled for this Thursday. Teams from multiple local, state, and federal agencies are working to contain the fire, while authorities have closed roads in some areas. In total, the state records about 40 active fires, including two large outbreaks that have ravaged about 140 square kilometers, while in Florida firefighters are battling more than 130 fires, mainly in the north.

You may be interested in: The Argentine Patagonia faces serious fires and has already recorded 45,000 hectares burned

The weather conditions such as prolonged drought, low humidity and strong winds have favored the rapid spread of the flames, in some cases without giving time to issue alerts to the population.

The authorities have banned controlled burns in southern Georgia, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has promised additional support for the crisis response. Meanwhile, the smoke from the fires has spread to cities like Atlanta and Savannah, in Georgia, and Jacksonville, in Florida.