Wildfires across Georgia and Florida destroy more than 50 homes and force evacuations

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Wildfires across Georgia and Florida destroy more than 50 homes and force evacuations

Some of the biggest blazes were near Georgia's coast, while others were popping up in northern Florida, which is facing one of its worst fire seasons in decades.

https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/wildfires-georgia-florida-destroy-50-homes-force-evacuations-rcna341565
April 22, 2026, 11:27 PM CDT / Source: The Associated Press


NAHUNTA, Ga. — Huge plumes of smoke blanketed swaths of the Southeast on Wednesday as crews battled rapidly growing wildfires that destroyed more than 50 homes in Georgia and forced hundreds to flee the drought- and wind-fueled flames.

Some of the biggest blazes were near Georgia's coast, while others were popping up in northern Florida, a state facing one of its worst fire seasons in decades.


It was not yet clear how the wildfires started, but the bottom half of Georgia is perilously dry and the conditions prompted the state's forestry commission to issue a burn ban for the first time in its history. Southeastern Georgia has seen just 11 inches of rain since the beginning of September — almost 15 inches below normal, the National Weather Service said.

The fires spread so quickly in that area that residents received no warnings or alerts...............


https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-1000w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2026-04/260423-georgia-fires-rc-1224a-0ca748.jpg
Firefighters respond to the Pineland Road Fire in southeast Georgia on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
Firefighters respond to the Pineland Road Fire in southeast Georgia on Wednesday.Georgia Department of Natural Resources / AP Photo