October 1, 2026
NAHUNTA, Ga. — Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief has begun deploying volunteers and equipment to help meet needs in Brantley County, where wildfires have destroyed dozens of structures and evacuations have been ordered. The blazes have prompted Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency for more than half of the state's counties.
The fires are part of a wider outbreak across the Southeast that has forced residents from their homes, closed some schools, and sent smoke drifting as far as Atlanta. In Georgia, some of the largest blazes have been near the coast, where extreme drought, dry timber, and gusting winds have allowed flames to spread quickly. Authorities said nearly 50 homes had been destroyed in Brantley County alone, and the fire there remained only 5% contained.
Dwain Carter, director of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief, said his teams began responding as conditions worsened.
“The first GBDR unit rolled into Brantley County late this afternoon,” Carter said. “Three more will be there tomorrow, and six feeding volunteers will be embedded with the Salvation Army.” Carter added that more units will be deployed after the fires are contained.
Carter urged prayer for those battling the fires and those already suffering loss.
“Please pray for all Emergency Responders, community members, and families who are working nonstop on the Georgia Wildfires,” he wrote on social media. “Many residents have already lost everything because of these fires today, with no end in sight. God send the rain.”
The National Weather Service reports that the area has received just 11 inches of rainfall since the beginning of September 2025. That’s almost 15 inches below normal, creating exceptional or extreme drought conditions in the lower half of the state.
The Georgia Forestry Commission issued a burn ban for the southern part of the state, the first in its history. Brantley County officials said the fire there expanded rapidly, at one point growing roughly sixfold in half a day, leaving some residents little time to react.
The GBDR response is being coordinated with local emergency officials, ministry partners, and pastors on the ground.
Carter said a shower unit, laundry unit, and large generator are being deployed at the request of Brantley County Emergency Management. The units will set up at Lulaton Baptist Church, and serve both emergency personnel and local residents, Carter said.
Once the fires are contained, he said, the disaster relief effort will likely shift from supporting firefighting efforts to recovery.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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