Southeast Wildfires Drive Georgia to Record Property Losses

Georgia declared a state of emergency for 91 counties as two major wildfires burn across the drought-stricken Southeast, scorching more than 39,500 acres and destroying at least 122 homes and other structures in Georgia, with containment around 10%. Authorities warn extreme fire conditions will persist and have imposed a 30-day outdoor burning ban in affected areas, while investigators traced the Highway 82 blaze to a balloon ignition and the Pineland Road fire to welding sparks; no casualties were reported in Georgia, though a Florida volunteer firefighter died fighting a brush fire nearby.