SIT REP 1: 4/25/2026 @ 1650 HOURS PDT

Incident Summary

(L) Photo Credit: CCEMA

The Pineland Road Fire is burning about 13 miles northwest of Fargo, Georgia, in southern rough fire fuels. The wildfire originally broke out on April 18, 2026.

Current Status

The cause of the fire, as released by Fire Officials, was a stray spark from a welding operation that fell to the forest floor and spread to nearby unburned heavy fire fuels (vegetation).

In an update reported to Idaho’s National Interagency Fire Center, based in Boise, the fire was described as extreme, with wind-driven runs, torching, and spotting.

Critical infrastructure and about 187 homes are being threatened, prompting mandatory evacuation orders in two separate counties (Echols and Clinch), which are in place at the time of this update. Unfortunately, the community has seen a total loss of 35 minor structures, which also included a hunting camp.

About 31,976 acres have been burned. A 10% containment status has been reported. The area has been impacted by dry conditions and has been a continuous challenge to firefighters due to the fire burning in bays and swamps. They have also been challenged by difficult access points.

The current weather report as of 4/25/2026 @ 1650 hours PDT: Temps of 76*F with it being mostly cloudy with a humidity of 58% and a visibility of 10 miles. There is a current No Drones in Fire Zones and TFR in effect.

A 30-day mandatory burn ban for 91 Georgia counties is issued on April 22, 2026, by the GA Forestry Commission. (Photo Credit)

Resources

About 184 total personnel are assigned, which is an increase of 45 new members being added within a 24-hour time period. Resources include 14 engines.

As of 0700 hours on Friday morning, the Southern Area IMT 1 assumed command and is working under the GA Forestry Commission ICP, in addition to all County and local partners.

At the time this information was given, there was a total of 59 fire departments across the state working on structure protection efforts alone, as well as 20 dozers and eight (8) Type 6 engines.

There are also assigned aviation assets (LATs, small and large helicopters).

Incident Cooperators include:

  • Clinch County Emergency Management Agency
  • Georgia Forestry Commission
  • Brantley County Sheriff’s Office
  • Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper
  • Southern Area Complex IMT 1 (Red Team)
  • Governor Brian Kemp
  • GA National Guard
  • Law Enforcement Div – GA DNR
  • City of Lake Park

Cost to Date

The cost to date for fire suppression and containment efforts has reached a total of 2.6 Million Dollars.

(Sources: NIFC, GA Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, GCSO.GA EMA and Accuweather).

GA Fire Facts

As of Friday, April 24, 2026, the GA Forestry Commission released some concerning fire facts for their state.

  • GAFC responded to 32 new wildfires on Friday alone, burning 50 acres statewide.
  • This does not include the already massive wildfires burning in their State.

(c) 2024 NW Fire Blog