West Mims Fire not 'looming threat' for Nassau County, officials say

Nassau County Emergency Management officials said there is no "looming threat" of the West Mims Fire for residents.

Director Billy Estep said fire crews have been successful in maintaining the east boundary containment lines on the fire in Georgia.

Officials said the changing weather pattern for this week has given incident commanders in Nassau County confidence there is no longer an immediate threat to county residents.

The Nassau County Emergency Operations Center said it will resume normal operations effective 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Nassau County Emergency Management said residents, especially those living near the Florida-Georgia border, to stay vigilant for changing conditions involving the West Mims Fire.

The massive fire near the Florida-Georgia border that's been burning since early April has grown 150,306 acres as of Saturday afternoon. The wildfire is 16 percent contained, officials from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge said.

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There are 804 personnel, including firefighters, are at the site working the fire.

For Saturday, firefighters will continue to contain the fire in all areas. Wildlife refuge officials said needle-casting is becoming more of an issue for firefighters since it can cause reburns.

The U.S. Forestry Service crews, along with workers from several other federal, state and local cooperating agencies, continue to contain the wildfire.

Officials warn Nassau County residents that the fire is not extinguished and has a possibility to become a threat in the future.

Residents are asked to call the county's emergency management at 904-548-0900 or visit the department's website for any other information.

Cox Media Group