LISTEN: Five days after it started, the Highway 82 fire in South Georgia’s Brantley County is still raging. Local officials say residents should be prepared to evacuate. GPB's Chase McGee reports.

A firefighter walks through a burned field with a hose over his shoulder.

A firefighter works the Brantley Highway 82 fire, Thursday, April 23, 2026, near Nahunta, Ga.

Credit: AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Five days after it started, the Highway 82 fire in South Georgia’s Brantley County is still raging. Local officials say residents should be prepared to evacuate.

Firefighters have been battling the blaze for days, cutting fire lines and dumping fire retardants from aircraft.

Brantley County Manager Joey Cason said residents still need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, and for now, a curfew is in place.

"This curfew would be enforced by all law enforcement," he said. "It will go from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. in the morning. That will remain in effect until this event is under control."

The Southern Area Incident Management Team arrived on Friday morning as part of a multiagency wildfire response group across 13 southern states.

Gov. Brian Kemp is also making a visit to the area on Friday.

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