ST. GEORGE - With the winds picking up, fire officials expect a tough fight ahead today as they struggle to contain the sprawling wildfire that has threatened communities here for a month.
"Crews are working to hold what we've got," Joe Zwierzchowski, a spokesman for the agencies fighting the fire, said during his regular morning briefing. "The east side of the line is going to be tested."
He said winds heading in a northeasterly direction, with gusts up to 25 mph, are expected the challenge the fire breaks that crews have established in the east side of the largely wooded area, no more than a few miles from homes. Firefighters spent much of Thursday shoring up those barriers.
The fire spread another 3,993 acres in the last day, to encompass a total area of damage of 148,066 acres, about twice the size of the city of Atlanta. It was not the worst day of fire growth, nor the worst. Most of the fire area is not actively burning. It’s the fiery edges that worry officials the most. But the blaze remains only 12 percent contained, with some 700 firefighters battling it.
The fire began with a lightning strike April 6 in the Okenfenokee Swamp, but has spread well beyond that area. It has still claimed no loss of life or home. The past week or so has been the most trying for residents in nearby communities, and the evacuations called for in the southern part of Charlton County expanded Thursday, though few residents have followed that recommendation.
This morning, the smell of smoke remained in the air, as people went about their day. It’s clear that the nearby presence of the fire has become a staple of life. Pastor Grady Allbritton once again arrived early to start the feeding operation at the St. George Church of God gymnasium. He’s been doing that for a week now.
“It’s work, but it’s something you love to do,” he said as he greeted firefighters coming in for their morning meals.
Thomas Payne of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency took up his post blocking the intersection in the center of town. And once again, the town became a busy place of fire vehicles going this way and that, off the combat a blaze expected to burn for months.
The regulars came in for breakfast at the Woofy Wagon restaurant nearby. And so many of the conversations were about the fire.
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