NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — Two wildfires in southeastern Georgia continued to threaten homes and lives on Saturday as officials warned that strong winds could spread the flames. Brantley County Manager Joey Cason called it a “dynamic situation” in a Saturday morning video posted to social media and urged residents to “please evacuate” if they are ordered to do so. “This fire is going to move rapidly, once these winds get here later today,” he said. The Highway 82 Fire has been burning since Monday and has destroyed at least 87 homes. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp stated Friday that this is the most significant destruction from a single wildfire in the state’s history. The fire was ignited by a foil balloon contacting live power lines, creating an electrical arc that ignited combustible material. An infrared flight overnight helped officials better map the fire, with its perimeter exceeding 14.8 square miles and currently just 10% contained. Meanwhile, a second fire approximately 70 miles southwest in Clinch and Echols counties has burned more than 46.9 square miles and destroyed at least 35 homes, also 10% contained as of midday Saturday. Firefighters continue to battle over 150 other wildfires across Georgia and Florida, sending smoky haze into distant areas and triggering air quality warnings. This unusual spring surge in wildfires has been attributed to extreme drought, strong winds, climate change, and remnants left by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Tragically, a volunteer firefighter in northern Florida, James “Kevin” Crews, died after suffering a medical emergency while fighting a brush fire. Fortunately, there have been no reported deaths or injuries due to fires in Georgia.