Officials are calling the rain Friday night and into Saturday a “real blessing.”
Approximately a half-inch to 1.5 inches of rain fell across Brantley County May 1 and May 2 allowing firefighting crews to strengthen containment lines and mop up areas with heat signatures.
It marked the second significant rain fall in the now threeweek old Hwy. 82 Brantley County fire that has scorched approximately 22,600 acres including approximately 110 homes.
The first “much needed” rain came Sunday, April 26 when 3/10ths of inch to a little over an inch fell. An isolated cell brought brief, heavy downpours to areas near Waynesville and Atkinson. The Browntown community also saw periods of heavy rain.
Unfortunately, neither shower was enough to immediately extinguish the deepseated, peat-driven fires.
The good news, however, was the latest rainfall helped firefighters get the wildfire to 75 percent contained. Heading into Friday, May 1, the fire was at 45% containment.
“This rain has been a real blessing for us,” said Casey Tudor with the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). “Most of the fire activity today (Saturday, May 2) is going to be smoldering. It has allowed us to get out in front of the fire and minimize its intensity and hot spots. But, it (rain) can hide smoke and heat signatures to the naked eye.”
To find what can’t be seen from the ground, emergency crews are scanning from the sky using drones equipped with infrared cameras to detect heat spots before they reignite.
The drones collect heat signature coordinates which are sent to crews on the ground. Firefighters break up the soil and add water until it’s cool.
“Even though you’re not going to see live flames,” said Tudor, “there’s plenty of potential if conditions dry up again to see some actual fire activity. Realistically, until we have made sure every area of the fire is cold and safe, this fire will continue to be work.
“Areas are not considered contained until hot spots are out and the ground is cool.”
Also, all mandatory evacuations have been lifted, according to Karen Miranda-Gleason, a public information officer with the Southern Area Incident Management Team.
“Many people have lost everything, so they don’t have clothes and they have to worry about getting medicine,” said Gleason. “They don’t have anything. Whatever people think they may need to be able to recover, that’s really what this event is about.”
Gregory Brooks, executive administrator for the Emerge Chaplains Response Team, said the group is bringing in about 50 RVs to support those displaced. The group is also providing mental and spiritual aid.
“A lot of them, when facing a lot of trauma in their life, it disrupts them completely to the point where they feel like giving up,” Brooks said.
The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office shared residents in Zones 25 and 26, which includes northern Browntown, were able to return to their homes Saturday.
Roadways across the county are now open, except for portions of Highway 32 that remain closed at Highway 110 and Browntown Road.
The county-wide curfew has been lifted. Brantley County schools resumed classes Monday, May 4 for those who can attend.
“While we’re encouraged by the progress, the fire is not out,” according to a released statement from the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office. “Please continue to stay alert, use caution, and be mindful of crews still working throughout the area.”
Drew Mickolay, a public information officer with the Southern Area Complex Incident Management team, said patrols would continue in the area.
“With all the rain, crews will still be out doing some patrolling,” said Mickolay. “If they come across some hot spots they find, they’ll be working on those.”
A mandatory burn ban is still in place for all counties in South Georgia. Authorities are reminding residents that no burning is allowed at this time.
The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday that the American Red Cross shelter in Brunswick has closed and that other temporary shelters in the area are beginning to wind down.
