As Brantley County, GA, Wildfire Spreads, Firefighter Questions Command

While firefighters continue to battle a raging wildfire in Brantley County, some crews are operating outside their expertise.

The Highway 82 fire started April 20 is six percent contained and as of Monday night, had spread to 22,600 acres, according to the GA Forestry Commission. 

As the entire state is in a severe drought, at least one firefighter is questioning the leaders of the operation.

"Fire trucks full of water and I mean anywhere from three to thirty just sitting and being told not to do anything," an unnamed firefighter told JAX, adding he was frustrated crews were not being used on the front lines.

The firefighter, who said he had more than a decade of experience, questioned the sidelining of personnel who responded to help.

Karen Gleason, a spokesperson for the Officials with the Southern Area Incident Management Team, explained: "Most structural firefighters are not comfortable fighting fire in the woods.”

Forestry crews undergo nearly 800 hours of specialized training.

Despite the criticism, Gleason emphasized that while local crews did an “awesome job” saving homes, even as the current environmental factors are working against them.

“When you get these unprecedented dry conditions like we have in Southeast Georgia now, you can’t work miracles. It’s very hard to contain every fire.”

She said 50 small fires are being snuffed out daily. 

Rob Chase, an official with the Florida Forestry Service added: “With a wildfire, we’re dealing with weather that could potentially shift the direction of the flame from north to south within a second."