First responders from Waycross and Ware County have been aiding their Brantley County brethren battling the wildfire, as well as any law enforcement needs that have surfaced.
The Waycross Fire Department and Ware County Fire and Rescue have provided four-man teams and equipment since April 21, a day after the blaze began. Ware County Sheriff’s Office personnel also have stepped in to aid the Brantley County Sheriff s Office with public safety issues that have arisen as a result of BCSO staff focused on the fire.
The help provided from agencies in counties adjacent and close to Brantley is just a part of the aid pouring into the area. Approximately 60 agencies — fire and law enforcement — from around the state have converged to aid with the fire, that has spread from its origin in the Atkinson/Waynesville area near the Brantley-Glynn County line just north of U.S. 82 to include both Wayne and Glynn counties.
The city and county fire departments were working in tandem to provide two crews and equipment for the 12-hour night shift. Sheriff Carl James said his office has been sending three of its personnel daily.
“We have an engine company and a supervisor,” said Waycross Fire Chief Jim B l a c k b urn, who’s been on the scene at various times himself.
Added Chief B l a c k burn’s Ware County colleague, Dee Meadows: “We’re sending a pumper truck and two personnel every day on the night shift (7 p.m.-7 a.m.). They come back and we reassess in the morning for the next day.”
Chief Blackburn said Monday afternoon the arrival of federal help allowed local personnel to be removed from the line that evening.
“We were told we’d been pulled tonight,” he said. “There’s a lot of federal help, which is what was needed. I saw brush trucks coming in from Oregon.” James said the help from his office grew from an initial inquiry.
“We called over to let them know if they needed help we were available,” James said after Gov. Brian Kemp’s press briefing at Waycross-Ware County Airport Friday.
James
“They said, ‘send us what ever you can.’ We’ll send people as long as they need them as long as we can.
“They’d do it for us.”
Sheriff James said his people have been handling “whatever is needed.”
“Traffic control, evacuations, whatever they need us to help with,” he said. “There’s an awful lot to handle over there.”
Both Chiefs Blackburn and Meadows said they were fortunate to be able to help, since there are no issues at this point in the city and county with a ban on outdoor burning.
“We still have to cover over here, too, but right now we’re in pretty good shape,” Meadows said. “We’re hoping and praying to get a little rain to help out and the people to (follow the burn ban).”
