NAHUNTA — Saturday saw all hands on deck responding to intense Brantley County fires.
The initial fire occurred along Sears Road, reigniting from a previous fire. It went on to burn 16.7 acres, with the dispersed ashes also triggering a smaller spot fire off Jess Allen Road.
It required multiple agencies, including Nahunta, Calvary, Hoboken, Hortense, and Waynesville volunteer fire departments, Georgia Forestry, Nahunta City Police, Brantley EMS, and Brantley Sherriff’s Office to contain.
Nahunta Mayor and Volunteer Fire Department Chief Marty Lee warned citizens about burning in the present conditions. “Be careful for burning, be responsible,” he said. “The fire danger is high.”
“Thank you from Nahunta to all the agencies that helped,” he added.
In response to the surge in brush fires and drought conditions Brantley County has experienced recently, the Brantley Board of Commissioners issued a declaration of local emergency on Thursday.
The declaration cited the “ongoing concerns with Brush Fires throughout the County”, as well as the National Weather Service listing Brantley as “having Severe Drought conditions.”
The emergency declaration included three main orders: 1. The cessation of all outdoor burning, save for agricultural purposes.
2. Any damages and expenses incurred by county staff and volunteer fire departments will be charged to the landowner that started the fire.
3. Brantley County Volunteer Fire Departments, Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, Brantley County EMS and Brantley County Public Works would coordinate responses to any fire emergencies.
The emergency was lifted on Saturday.
