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Georgia declares state of emergency as wildfires destroy dozens of homes

Kayla Epstein
News imageGeorgia Forestry Commission Firefighters with the Georgia Forestry Commission survey the Pineland Road Fire. The firefighters stand in the foreground, wearing yellow jackets and helments. Their backs are to the camera as they watch columns of wildfire smoke, glowing orange, soar hundreds of feet into the air.Georgia Forestry Commission
Firefighters with the Georgia Forestry Commission survey the Pineland Road Fire

Wildfires in Georgia have burned more than 39,500 acres and destroyed more than 120 homes, officials have said.

Two major fires in the south-east of the state – the Pineland Road Fire and the Highway 82 fire – prompted Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to declare a 30-day state of emergency in 91 of the state's 159 counties.

"Right now conditions are so dry that even one small spark can quickly turn into a dangerous wildfire," Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo said in a video statement.

Emergency officials are also battling a range of smaller blazes, reporting 32 new wildfires that consumed 50 acres on Saturday.

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"We are in extreme drought conditions, and wildfire activity has already surpassed our five year average," Sabo added.

The fires began sprouting up on 18 April and Kemp declared a state of emergency four days later.

A foil balloon that came into contact with a power line is believed to have sparked the Highway 82 fire, which has consumed about 7,500 acres so far, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC). The blaze was about 10% contained, they said.

A stray spark from a welding operation is believed to be the source of the Pineland Road Fire which has scorched 32,000 acres, the GFC said.

Officials said in an update on Friday that at least 35 "minor structures" had been lost in Pineland fire and 187 homes remained threatened.

Ninety-one counties in the state have been placed under an outdoor burn ban, which prohibits the burning of rubbish and agricultural materials.

The Dudek family watched the flames reach their property line as they started to gather belongings, they told CBS News, the BBC's US media partner.

As they evacuated their children and pets, Anna Dudek watched through her phone's security camera feed as the flames engulfed their home.

"When both of my devices were offline, and it was black and I couldn't see no more, it was so gut-wrenching because then I knew, like, they got... what I call home," she told CBS News.