That is a smoke smell – State of Emergency declared for 91 counties

For those of you who might have enjoyed part of Earth Day outside on Wednesday, you may have smelled some smoke. That was not the neighbor getting the grill out. Fires in southeast Georgia have so far burned somewhere around 35,000 acres, about 55 square miles. For reference, the entire City of Atlanta is about 134 square miles so imagine a fire more than a third the size of the inside of the 285 Perimeter. 

In response to the fire, Governor Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday for 91 counties, as well as directing the Georgia Forestry Commission to mobilize all necessary resources and assist with response efforts. The State of Emergency will remain in effect for 30 days, with renewal possible as the fire is currently only 10-15 percent contained.