Dozens of homes destroyed as Georgia wildfires force evacuations

Local News Dozens of homes destroyed as Georgia wildfires force evacuations, send smoke into metro Atlanta By Christopher Harris Christopher Harris Digital Producer, CBS News Atlanta Christopher Harris is a digital content producer for CBS Atlanta and the South region. Read Full Bio Christopher Harris Updated on: April 22, 2026 / 8:11 PM EDT / CBS Atlanta Add CBS News on Google Fast-moving wildfires in southern Georgia destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundred of evacuations, as Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday declared a state of emergency, prompting road closures and burn bans. The Brantley County fire in southeast Georgia has burned approximately 5,000 acres and was about 10% contained as of Wednesday night. County officials said that about 50 homes have been destroyed in the blaze and approximately 1,000 remain under threat. In the community of Waynesville, block after block was reduced to ash. Smoke could be seen rising from the ruins, with homes and cars destroyed. Charred and twisted, firefighters were struggling to contain the flames. "This fire became a lot larger than we thought it would be," Brantley County Manager Joey Carson told reporters. "We've got resources that have come from all over South Georgia."High winds and extreme drought conditions have sparked dozens of new fires over last few days. According to the Georgia Forestry Association, at least 27,000 acres were burning across the region. "These winds may shift rapidly which will create unpredictable fire behavior, so just stay alert, and for the public, be prepared to evacuate immediately," Brantley County Sheriff Len Davis said in a news briefing.About 65 miles away from Brantley County, nearly 100 firefighters were battling the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch County, which had exploded to about 16,500 acres as of Wednesday night and was 10% contained. The fire had reached nearby bays and swamps, which contributed to the challenging firefighting conditions. Some residents of nearby Echols Cou...