Conditions could make Georgia’s wildfire season the most dangerous one yet. Andreas Berget

Conditions could make Georgia’s wildfire season the most dangerous one yet.

Credit: Andreas Berget

Georgia recorded 4,041 wildfires in 2025, burning over 26,000 acres statewide, and the 2026 wildfire season is shaping up to be just as destructive. As of early April, more than half of the US is in a drought, causing wildfire activity to sharply increase.

Heading into the wildfire season, there are three compounding problems and The National Interagency Fire Center’s (NIFC) seasonal outlook says the season is already running hotter than average.

Georgia has been flagged as a watch zone for spring and the NIFC projects above-normal wildfire risk for Georgia, Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas through at least May 2026.

 

The compounding problems

Georgia has not just one wildfire risk factor right now, but several at once. When dry vegetation, low humidity and wind combine with drought-stressed forests and leftover storm debris, even a small spark can turn into a fast-moving fire.

 

Lingering La Niña drought

  • Rainfall deficits of 9 to 12 inches over the past 120 days, has left vegetation dry and highly flammable
  • Below-normal precipitation
  • Above-normal temperatures
  • Stronger dry cold fronts
  • An extended fire season potentially running into early summer

 

Debris left from Hurricane Helene

  • The storm left approximately 800,000-plus acres of downed and broken trees
  • Dead and damaged trees lying close together serve as an easier burn path
  • Degraded road access complicates firefighting response

 

Hotter season and worse drought conditions

  • La Niña is helping keep temperatures elevated and rainfall suppressed
  • Drought pulls moisture out of soils and vegetation so fuels dry out faster than normal
  • A spark is more likely to catch and spread quickly when paired with low humidity and wind

 

What to watch

Georgia residents should be responsible about burning and check local conditions and alerts before you start a fire, even if you feel it is contained.

 

To stay safe:

  • Check burn permit requirements before any open burning
  • Clear leaves, dead vegetation, and debris within 30 feet of your home
  • Never burn yard waste on windy days or during drought conditions
  • Monitor air quality and wildfire activity on the GFC Public Viewer. It shows real-time fire locations, smoke forecasts, and wind direction statewide

If you have questions or need further support, call the Georgia Forestry Commission at 1-800-GA-TREES or visit GaTrees.org.

Do you have an issue you’d like to know more about? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

Tags: Georgia  weather  wildfires  wildfire risk  drought  fire  forest fires  forest