Georgia wildfire forces evacuation of surrounding communities | 04.30.2007 | 05:34:33 | Views: 6641 | ID: April 30 '07: According to the On Deadline blog at USA Today, more than 700 firefighters in Southern Georgia were working to put out wildfires which have consumed more than 100 square miles of swampland. The Associated Press reported that by Monday, about 70 percent of the blazes had been contained. The Georgia Department of Homeland Security's website reported that the fires are the largest in the state's history and that federal, state and local agencies are cooperating to put out the flames. Officials in the state had dry climate conditions causing a severe drought coupled with high winds to help spread the fires. About 22 homes have been destroyed by the fires and residents have been forced to evacuate the area. Additionally, U.S. 1 was closed in sections leading to Jacksonville, Florida. An up-to-date incident report can be found at the InciWeb page which posts movements of federal, state and local response agencies in real time.
Copyright ©2007 TheBreakingNews.com. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction in part or full without prior written permission.
|