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Towering smoke plumes rolled across the Southeast like a slow-moving storm Wednesday as Georgia wildfires tore through dry landscapes, destroying more than 50 homes and forcing hundreds to flee advancing flames driven by drought and wind.

Blazes Spread Rapidly With Little Warning

Some of the largest fires ignited near Georgia’s coast, while additional outbreaks flared in northern Florida, which is grappling with one of its worst wildfire seasons in decades. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fires, but conditions in southern Georgia have turned dangerously dry.

The crisis prompted the Georgia Forestry Commission to issue its first-ever burn ban in the southern part of the state. According to the National Weather Service, southeastern Georgia has received just 11 inches of rain since September—nearly 15 inches below normal.

In some areas, flames advanced so quickly that residents had no time to prepare or respond.

“I wish I had known more,” said Brianna Elliott, who left home briefly only to find her return route blocked by fire less than two hours later. She now fears her house—and her pets—may be gone.

Fires Consume Tens of Square Miles

Georgia’s two largest fires have already scorched more than 33 square miles, with at least four additional smaller blazes reported statewide.

Dry Timber and Winds Fuel Destruction

In Brantley County, one of the most aggressive fires threatened nearly 1,000 homes after destroying dozens a day earlier. County Manager Joey Cason said the blaze expanded nearly sixfold within half a day.

“There were fires erupting in backyards while people were fleeing out the front,” he said.

Despite the destruction, no major injuries have been reported so far.

The rural county, located between Georgia’s coastal beaches and the Okefenokee Swamp, is rich in timberlands and farms—fuel that has turned the fires into fast-moving infernos. Fire crews have been racing to carve out containment lines, but gusty winds threaten to scatter embers and ignite new hotspots.

Authorities say rainfall is urgently needed. The hardest-hit regions fall under “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions, the most severe classifications by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“If you could start praying for that right now, we’d be grateful,” Cason said.

Forestry officials warned that dried pine forests and layers of organic debris in swampy terrain have created conditions that are “super flammable,” accelerating the spread.

Federal Aid and Emergency Declarations

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved emergency grants to assist both Georgia and Florida in battling the blazes.

Meanwhile, Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency across more than half of Georgia’s counties, underscoring the scale of the disaster.