Maps: Active Wildfires Across Northeast Florida

Wildfires burning across northeast Florida and southeast Georgia have turned maps into daily safety tools as evacuations and road closures shift by the hour. (firstcoastnews.com) The biggest Georgia fires were the Highway 82 fire in Brantley County, at about 5,000 acres, and the Pineland Road fire in Clinch and Echols counties, at about 16,516 acres and 10% containment as of April 23. Georgia officials said the two largest fires had burned more than 31 square miles combined, and nearly 50 homes had been destroyed across the region. (firstcoastnews.com) (gatrees.org) In Florida, the main northeast Florida fires were the Railroad Fire in Putnam County at more than 4,000 acres and the Crews Road fire in Clay County, with the two together burning nearly 6,000 acres by Wednesday afternoon. The Florida Forest Service also reported 135 active wildfires burning almost 21,000 acres statewide early April 22. (firstcoastnews.com) (usatoday.com) The maps matter because the fire lines do not match county lines or city limits. Brantley County officials listed active fire areas from Highway 110 and Drury Lane to Waynesville Road, Highway 259 and U.S. 82, and the sheriff’s office kept evacuation zones and road closures under constant revision on April 22. (firstcoastnews.com 1) (firstcoastnews.com 2) What residents see on those maps usually comes from three layers: fire perimeters, evacuation zones and county-level emergency orders. Florida’s public wildfire viewer and burn-ban dashboard show active incidents and county restrictions, while Georgia’s wildfire information page posts acreage, containment and evacuation updates for named fires. (fdacs.gov) (ffs.firesponse.com) (gatrees.org) The spread has been driven by drought, wind and very low humidity. Governor Brian Kemp said on April 22 that wildfires in Georgia had already surpassed the state’s five-year average, and he declared a 30-day state of emergency for 91 counties while the Georgia Forestry Commission imposed a matching burn ban. (gov.georgia.gov) Florida has been moving in the same direction, with county burn bans stacking up as conditions worsen. The Florida Forest Service burn-ban dashboard showed county-enacted bans across much of the state as of April 21, and St. Johns County said its local ban followed Governor Ron DeSantis’ April 10 extension of a statewide drought emergency. (arcgis.com) (sjcfl.us) The Brantley County fire shows how quickly a local blaze can become a regional emergency. First Coast News reported the fire grew from about 1,500 acres Tuesday afternoon to more than 5,000 acres by Wednesday evening, with 16 agencies on scene, school canceled Thursday and re-entry barred in evacuated areas. (firstcoastnews.com) The practical use of the maps is simple: check whether your road, subdivision or county order has changed before you drive, return home or wait out smoke. Officials in both states are directing residents to follow evacuation orders, avoid closed roads and use official fire dashboards and sheriff’s office updates as crews try to hold lines around fast-moving fires. (firstcoastnews.com) (gov.georgia.gov)