A wildfire has burned more than 152,000 acres along the Georgia-Florida state line as of Sunday, May 14, according to officials. Hot, dry conditions and shifting winds have have worsened the situation.
The fire has burned for more that five weeks after being ignited by a lightning strike on April 6. It is now 16 percent contained.
UPDATE: #WestMimsFire is now 15% contained, however the fire grew close to 4,000 more acres within a day. https://t.co/jX2jra5KKh pic.twitter.com/ZjLC7CoddI
— First Coast News (@FCN2go) May 12, 2017
“Our lines are going to be tested. Mother Nature is a powerful thing.”
US Forest Service spokesman Tom Stokesberry
While flames have mostly been contained within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in south Georgia, according to refuge manager Michael Lusk. Lusk roughly 40 percent of the scorched acres are outside the refuge.
The dry conditions over the last few weeks has made the situation worse.
The last 90 days have been very dry for most. As a result, extreme drought introduced across areas of southeast Georgia. #gawx #flwx #jaxwx pic.twitter.com/b8LWQ0KS1l
— NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) May 11, 2017
