BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. — Governor Brian Kemp is traveling to South Georgia Friday, April 24, to survey damage from one of the two out-of-control wildfires, as crews continue working to contain a fast-moving fire that has already destroyed dozens of homes.

The Pineland Road wildfire in Clinch County has burned more than 31,000 acres, national measures show. The wildfire in Brantley County near Highway 82 has burned more than 4,000 acres and is about 15% contained, according to state forestry officials.

Kemp will reportedly be in Brantley County on Friday.

To check for wildfires and official guidelines in your area, visit the Georgia Forestry Commission’s site, where a map of Georgia shows active fires.

The damage has been severe. Officials say 82 homes have been destroyed, and more residents are being told to evacuate as the threat continues to shift.

Residents who fled earlier in the week are now trying to assess what’s left behind.

“We were seeing people just immediately trying to get out of their home, bringing their pets, just trying to find a refuge outside of where they were,” Mattie Hutto, a volunteer, said. “But now, we’re starting to see that they’re trying to go back to their homes.”

A who evacuated said many neighbors no longer have anything to return to.

“So many people in the area have completely lost their homes and lost everything they own,” Jonathan Grimes said. “Thankfully, we still do have something to go back home to.”

Forestry officials continue urging people in threatened areas to be ready to leave with little notice.

“Be ready to go at a spur moment. Don’t wait to the last minute,” the GFC’s Blair Joiner said. “We’ve seen this fire Tuesday afternoon. It moved in several different directions very quickly. Be ready to go. That’s our number one priority — life safety.”

Volunteers are also working to help displaced families as firefighters and emergency crews try to get the blaze under control.

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Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp and the National Guard are expected to tour the area alongside the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS).

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