WAYCROSS, Ga. — Firefighters in Ware County, Ga. are putting out a more-than 400-acre fire. The Georgia Forestry Commission says a prescribed burn that was intended to be 90 acres got out of control Tuesday.
The fire is burning on the north side of US 1, about 8 miles southeast of Waycross. The commission said the fire was 40 percent contained Wednesday afternoon.
Pat Stockett is a tractor plow operator and spokesperson for the commission. She tells Action News Jax almost a dozen vehicles and airplanes were working to contain the fire Wednesday afternoon.
The commission confirmed structures were threatened and that fire engines were working around them to keep them safe.
Stockett says getting the fire contained depends on a lot of factors.
“If the ground is very open and easily traversable, the containment rate can be very high. If they run into obstacles, canals, heavy timber, it will slow that containment time,” she said.
Stockett adds that the wind is in firefighters’ favor -- pushing the fire away from the structures that were threatened.
MORE: I’m told acreage online is incorrect. It’s between 400-450 acres.
— Meghan Moriarty (@MeghanANjax) May 26, 2021
As for containment: “contained but have to see what it does once it comes out of the bay”
Couldn’t give me a percentage @ActionNewsJax https://t.co/2Wz4fFC8Em
You can click here to view the Georgia Forestry Commission wildfire map.
On Tuesday night, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office said Georgia Forestry Commission units were on scene working on containment lines.
Viewer pictures show heavy smoke in the area.
One viewer said officials had U.S. 1 North shut down near Racepond Road Tuesday evening.
PHOTOS: WILDFIRE IN WARE COUNTY
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