Trending Now - Georgia Wildfires Ravage Over 100 Homes and 38,000 Acres
WHO:
CNN - Brytney Quinn, a mother from Brantley County, Georgia.
CNN - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
CNN - Elizabeth and Tony Spear, grandparents from Brantley County.
CNN - Kathy Hendrix, a resident of Waynesville, Georgia.
CNN - Ginger Hunter, owner of the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres.
CNN - Bobbi Enke, a resident affected by the wildfires.
CNN - Drake Smith, a resident who evacuated his home.
WTLV - Rosa Cosco, co-owner of Tacos Del Ranchito.
WTLV - Shelby Drummond, owner of Shelby and Shane’s Country Cooking and Catering.
WHAT:
Yahoo - Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared an emergency for 91 counties due to the wildfires, which have caused record property damage with more than 120 homes and other buildings destroyed.
Yahoo - The Highway 82 and Pineland Road fires have scorched more than 39,500 acres combined, marking the biggest property loss from a single fire event in Georgia's history.
Yahoo - Nearly 1,000 more homes remain threatened by the wildfires.
Yahoo - A 30-day ban on outdoor burning of refuse, agricultural waste, or campfires has been implemented in the 91 counties, marking the first such restriction in Georgia's history.
CNN - The Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Road Fire are believed to be the most destructive wildfires in Georgia's history, with over 120 homes destroyed.
CNN - Governor Brian Kemp stated, “We got the two most dangerous, biggest problematic fires anywhere in the United States within really just a very small area that we’re having to fight.”
CNN - The fires have left behind desiccated husks of vehicles and homes, blanketing neighborhoods with ash.
CNN - The Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Road Fire have together destroyed more than 120 homes, according to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
CNN - The fires have forced hundreds to evacuate from their homes, with approximately 4,000 homes still in the evacuation zone.
CNN - Brytney Quinn stated, “My house is gone,” after witnessing her home in flames via surveillance cameras just 30 minutes after evacuating.
CNN - Elizabeth Spear reported that they lost three pets in the blaze: two chihuahuas and a black lab.
CNN - Ginger Hunter, owner of the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres, lost her entire business and home, stating, “We lost my wedding dress, my mom’s wedding dress, my daughter’s wedding dress.”
CNN - Bobbi Enke learned her home and her father-in-law's home were consumed by the fires after receiving a video from a neighbor.
CNN - Drake Smith described the situation changing “in a matter of twenty minutes” as the fire approached, with temperatures rising suddenly.
CBS News US - Two wildfires in Georgia destroyed more than 100 homes and scorched over 38,000 acres.
CNN - The Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Road Fire together destroyed more than 120 homes.
CNN - Approximately 4,000 homes were still in the evacuation zone as reported by Governor Kemp.
CNN - A volunteer firefighter died due to a medical emergency while fighting the Old Dixie Highway Fire in Hilliard, Florida.
CNN - The fires have left behind desiccated vehicles and homes, blanketing neighborhoods with ash.
CNN - The Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres, along with its reception hall and bridal suite, was completely destroyed.
WHERE:
CBS News US - The wildfires are located in Georgia, specifically in Brantley County and surrounding areas.
CNN - The Old Dixie Highway Fire is located in Hilliard, Florida.
CNN - Confederate Park is located in Waynesville, Georgia.
WHEN:
CNN - Brytney Quinn evacuated her home around 12:20 p.m. on the day of the fire.
CNN - The Spears returned to their home on Thursday after evacuating on Tuesday.
CNN - The fires were reported to have been sparked by a children's party balloon landing on a power line.
WHY:
Yahoo - The wildfires were fueled by extreme drought conditions and unusually sparse rainfall this spring, creating a hazardous environment for wildfires.
CBS News US - Extreme drought conditions have turned the region into a tinderbox, allowing flames to spread rapidly.
CNN - The wildfires are fueled by the worst spring drought conditions on record.
HOW:
Yahoo - The Highway 82 fire was ignited when an aluminum-coated balloon landed on a transmission line, while the Pineland Road fire was started by a stray spark from a welding operation.
CNN - Kathy Hendrix rescued historical documents from Confederate Park during her evacuation, stating, “What’s in the back of my car right now is the history of our county – our legal records, our happenings.”
CNN - Ginger Hunter, owner of the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres, reported that they had no insurance on the buildings that burned.
CNN - Residents were urged to evacuate by firetrucks and police cars as the wildfires approached, with some families clutching medications and family heirlooms.
CNN - Residents were urged to evacuate by firetrucks and police cars as the wildfires approached.
CNN - Kathy Hendrix prioritized saving historical documents from Confederate Park during her evacuation.
(UPDATED April 25, 2026 23:07 UTC)
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has declared an emergency for 91 counties due to devastating wildfires that have destroyed more than 120 homes and other buildings, marking the biggest property loss from a single fire event in the state's history. The Highway 82 and Pineland Road fires have burned over 39,500 acres combined, and nearly 1,000 additional homes are still threatened as a result. In response to the extreme drought conditions and the hazardous environment, a 30-day ban on outdoor burning has been implemented, marking the first such restriction in Georgia's history.
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(UPDATED April 25, 2026 21:10 UTC)
The Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Road Fire are now considered the most destructive wildfires in Georgia's history, having destroyed over 120 homes and left neighborhoods blanketed in ash. Governor Brian Kemp emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that they are facing the two most dangerous fires in the entire United States within a very small area. Amid the chaos, Kathy Hendrix managed to rescue important historical documents during her evacuation, while Ginger Hunter, owner of the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres, revealed that they had no insurance on the buildings that were lost to the flames.
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(UPDATED April 25, 2026 19:16 UTC)
The Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Road Fire have devastated communities in Georgia, destroying over 120 homes and forcing hundreds to evacuate, with around 4,000 homes still in the evacuation zone. Many residents have shared heartbreaking stories, like Brytney Quinn, who saw her home engulfed in flames just thirty minutes after evacuating, and Ginger Hunter, who lost her entire business and cherished family wedding dresses in the blaze. As the fires rapidly approached, residents were urged to evacuate by firetrucks and police, with families leaving with only their medications and treasured belongings.
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(UPDATED April 25, 2026 17:12 UTC)
Two wildfires in Georgia have devastated more than 100 homes and scorched over 38,000 acres, with the Highway 82 Fire and the Pineland Road Fire destroying over 120 homes in Brantley County and surrounding areas. As the flames spread rapidly due to extreme drought conditions, residents were urged to evacuate, and many, including Brytney Quinn and the Spear grandparents, had to leave their homes behind, while the Wedding Chapel at Covenant Acres was completely destroyed. Tragically, a volunteer firefighter lost his life due to a medical emergency while battling the Old Dixie Highway Fire in Hilliard, Florida, highlighting the severe impact of these wildfires on the community.