Charlton and Ware Counties:
The fires burning in Charlton and Ware counties cover approximately 80,000 acres, and are 64 percent contained. Monday evening, firefighters were tackling a particularly pesky and hard-to-reach fire in the green swamp area near Race Pond Road in Ware County. An earlier evacuation order has been lifted and about 50 residents of Ware County’s Laura Walker Lake area have returned to their homes.
In Charlton County, firefighters seem to be catching a small break as winds have been moving the fire into the swamp, and only the Race Pond area is under a mandatory evacuation order, including Carter Community Road, Kingfisher Landing, Dowling Road, and U.S. 1 from mile marker 16 to the Charlton County line.
The Uptonville and Mattox areas, including Old U.S. 1, Grace Chapel Road and Old Spanish Creek Road are under a fire advisory.
Atkinson County:
Firefighters reported progress on the Roundabout Swamp Fire in Atkinson County, but late reports say the blaze has spread outside of the swamp again.
U. S. 82 (GA 520) is closed between the Mill community in Ware County and Pearson in Atkinson County. Traffic is being detoured westbound down Manor Millwood Road to Carswell Ave. (Highway 122). Assistance has been requested from DOT and Georgia State Patrol.
The biggest problem continues to be the weather. Low humidity, winds, and no rain in the forecast hamper firefighting efforts. Some firefighting crews from the Savannah area returned last week and at least one group from Southside Fire department went down to the fires.
Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
