Progress made on containing massive wildfires in Florida, Georgia as rain moves in over areas in the South
Georgia and Florida firefighters are facing more difficult fire weather conditions as they grapple with large wildfires that have been compounded by historic drought conditions.
Firefighters continue to battle 2 large wildfires in Georgia amid extremely dry conditions
The Pineland Road Fire and Highway 82 Fire combined have burned more than 55,000 acres as of Tuesday morning. Fire crews worked tirelessly overnight on the fires. The Highway 82 Fire is 32% contained, and the Pineland Road Fire is 23% contained.
NAHUNTA, Ga. — Firefighters in Georgia and Florida continue to fight wildfires raging amid a historic drought and extremely dry conditions, but some rainfall on Monday eased some fire danger.
The community north of Jacksonville mourned Hilliard, Florida, firefighter, James "Kevin" Crews, who was killed in the line of duty on Thursday battling the Old Dixie Highway Fire.
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![Pineland Road Fire on April 25, 2026.]()
Image 1 of 10Pineland Road Fire on April 25, 2026. (Georgia Forestry Commission)
![A helicopter drops water on the Pineland Road Fire on April 25, 2026.]()
Image 2 of 10A helicopter drops water on the Pineland Road Fire on April 25, 2026. (Georgia Forestry Commission)
![Devastation left behind by the Brantley County Fire.]()
Image 3 of 10Devastation left behind by the Brantley County Fire. (FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray)
![Georgia DNR Law Enforcement respond to the Pineland Road Wildfire in Clinch County and the Brantley County Wildfire.]()
Image 4 of 10Georgia DNR Law Enforcement respond to the Pineland Road Wildfire in Clinch County and the Brantley County Wildfire. (Law Enforcement Division - Georgia DNR/Facebook)
![Georgia DNR Law Enforcement respond to the Pineland Road Wildfire in Clinch County and the Brantley County Wildfire.]()
Image 5 of 10Georgia DNR Law Enforcement respond to the Pineland Road Wildfire in Clinch County and the Brantley County Wildfire. (Law Enforcement Division - Georgia DNR/Facebook)
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Image 6 of 10Wildfire burns in Brantley County, Georgia. (Brantley County Sheriff's Office)
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Image 7 of 10Thick smoke clouds the sky in Brantley County, Georgia at the scene of the Highway 82 Fire on April 26, 2026. (Georgia Forestry Commission)
![Crews work to removed downed trees among the Highway 82 Fire zone on April 25, 2026.]()
Image 8 of 10Crews work to removed downed trees among the Highway 82 Fire zone on April 25, 2026. (Georgia Forestry Commission)
![A firefighter stands among charred trees and smoke from the Highway 82 Fire on April 23, 2026.]()
Image 9 of 10A firefighter stands among charred trees and smoke from the Highway 82 Fire on April 23, 2026. (Georgia Forestry Commission)
![Huge smoke plumes from the Highway 82 Fire on April 22, 2026.]()
Image 10 of 10Huge smoke plumes from the Highway 82 Fire on April 22, 2026. (Georgia Forestry Commission)
Firefighters in Georgia continue to battle two large wildfires that, combined, total more than 55,000 acres.
In Brantley County, firefighters got a small reprieve on Monday night when rain helped ease fire danger and allowed firefighters to reach 32% containment on the Highway 82 Fire.
Brantley County Sheriff's Office lifted some of the evacuation orders for residents east of the fire zone, but evacuation orders remain in place for others.
Georgia National Guard on scene of the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County, Georgia on Monday, April 27.
(FOX Weather)
The Georgia National Guard was on scene helping aid local firefighters in the fight for containment.
FOX Weather Correspondent Robert Ray on Friday noted some of the devastation caused by the Brantley County fire in Nahunta, including charred cars and burnt down buildings.
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Flames from the Pineland Road Fire create an apocalyptic scene on April 25, 2026.
(Georgia Forestry Commission / FOX Weather)
The Pineland Road Fire also continues to rage across south Georgia, burning more than 32,500 acres roughly 45 miles east of Valdosta.
The fire was 23 percent contained as of Tuesday, the Georgia Forestry Commission said.
Wildfire burning in southeast Georgia on April 22, 2026.
(Georgia Forestry Commission / FOX Weather)
Collectively, the fires have destroyed nearly 90 homes across southern Georgia amid historic drought conditions.
Earlier in the week, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency across 91 counties and enacted the first mandatory burn ban in the state's history over the next 30 days.
Watch: Wildfires leave trail of damage across southern Georgia amid historic drought
Wildfires have scorched more than 34,000 acres across Georgia, with 1,000 homes still threatened. Air Quality Alerts have now been issued for across Georgia, including Atlanta, and South Carolina on Thursday due to smoke.
"We've got the two most dangerous, biggest, problematic fires anywhere in the U.S.," Kemp said Friday after touring the damage caused by the two major blazes.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, smoke will continue to blanket parts of the Southeast, which could be hazardous for those with respiratory issues.
Wildfire burns in Brantley County, Georgia.
(Brantley County Sheriff's Office / FOX Weather)
Air Quality Alerts remain for the Carolinas, eastern Georgia and the Jacksonville, Florida, area.
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A North Collier County fireman helps the Florida Forest Service battle a wildfire on April 14, 2026, in Naples, Florida. The historic drought has triggered evacuations in the area.
(Joe Raedle/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Across the state line, northern Florida firefighters were battling several wildfires, including the Old Dixie Fire outside of Hilliard, which claimed the life of Nassau County volunteer firefighter James "Kevin" Crews.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER DIES WHILE FIGHTING LARGE WILDFIRE IN FLORIDA
According to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, the firefighter experienced a medical emergency while battling the 500-acre wildfire on Thursday. The fire has since been contained.
Hilliard Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) announces the line-of-duty death of Firefighter James "Kevin" Crews, who passed away on April 23, 2026 following a medical emergency experience.
The nearby Railroad/Crews Rd Fire, south of Jacksonville, was 75% contained as of Sunday. The fire scorched 4,795 acres and forced Amtrak to cancel several train routes last week.
Burn bans have been in effect across 38 Florida counties, amid the state’s worst drought in 25 years.
Both Florida and Georgia are almost entirely covered in drought conditions, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor.
Wildfire rages in Putnam County, Florida on April 20, 2026.
(Putnam County Sheriff's Office/Facebook / FOX Weather)
The FOX Forecast Center said more rain is possible in Georgia by mid- to late-week.
However, officials said much more precipitation is needed to fully relieve fire and drought conditions.