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A downed power line is suspected to be the cause of the Charlton Highway 301 fire, emergency management officials have reported.
CHARLTON COUNTY, Ga. — Residents of Charlton County who were forced to evacuate their homes due to a significant wildfire have been given the green light to return, as confirmed by emergency management on Sunday night.
The evacuation impacted several areas, including homes on Humphries Road, Bill Knight Road, Willow Creek Road, Harold White Road, as well as residences in the Forest Lake vicinity.
First responders from Charlton County, along with neighboring counties, mobilized to tackle the blaze near Highway 301, just north of Folkston, on Sunday afternoon.
As of a 9:30 p.m. update from the Georgia Forestry Commission, the fire had spread across an estimated 550 acres and was reported to be about 70% contained.
“Please continue to actively monitor conditions in your area and remain aware of your surroundings, as shifts in weather or fire behavior can change conditions quickly,” the Charlton County Emergency Management Agency said in a social media post.
Deputies from both Charlton County and Camden County will conduct patrols in the area to keep an eye on the fire as it burns.
“This response represents the collective effort of many agencies and partners—more than most may realize—working together in coordination,” Charlton County EMA said.
The fire is believed to have been started by a downed power line.
The First Coast News weather radar picked up the smoke spanning across the Florida-Georgia line.
An EMA spokesperson said some structures were burned, including a shed, but no homes. EMA does not anticipate the evacuation order to last overnight.
The school district announced that schools will be in session on a normal schedule Monday, but students that are absent due to fire impacts will be excused.
The First Coast News weather team has issued a Weather Impact Alert until Wednesday due in part to severe fire risks across the area.