BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. - At least 47 buildings have been destroyed in South Georgia as a wildfire burns uncontrolled in Brantley County, according to officials.
What we know:
The 47 different buildings were destroyed overnight after the fire grew nearly ten times in size, according to Action News Jax, the FOX affiliate in Jacksonville, Florida. The fire has forced evacuations in the area around Highway 82 and forced schools to close in the area.
The fire is listed as 10% contained, according to the state forestry commission.
LIVE: Wildfire smoke prompts haze concerns in metro Atlanta skies
The smoke from this fire and another one in Clinch County is slowly moving into metro Atlanta, causing hazy conditions. With rain not expected until this weekend, the state has issued a mandatory burn ban for every county across Georgia.
Big picture view:
As the Brantley County fire and another in Clinch County spread, Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 Georgia counties in the southern part of the state. To see a full list of the counties, click here.
The State of Emergency will last for 30 days, unless extended.
What they're saying:
"With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state's 5-year average and continue to spread," said Governor Brian Kemp. "My team and I are working closely with Georgia State Forester Johnny Sabo and his team, along with federal, state, and local officials, to ensure we are doing everything possible to combat the fires and provide assistance to affected communities. We are praying for the families who have lost their homes in these devastating conditions, as well as for the first responders working around the clock."
Kemp said he will also send the National Guard in to assist in fighting the fire, including personnel and air support.
What we don't know:
It's unknown if any injuries or deaths have been caused by the fire.
What's next:
An update on the fire is expected around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, and FOX 5 plans to stream that live.
The Source: Information in this article came from Action News Jax and Georgia state officials.