Georgia orders mandatory evacuations due to wildfire

Georgia officials ordered mandatory evacuations in the southern town of St. George due to a wildfire that has scorched about 130,000 acres

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group said the fire, called the West Mims Fire, at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is expected to grow until at least Thursday due to high temperatures and low humidity.

The fire, started by lightning on April 6, is about 12 percent contained as of late Sunday. All St. George residents — about 2,000 — were ordered to evacuate and Charlton County Schools closed down all schools for both students and staff.

“St. George Elementary School is currently being used as a staging area for firefighters and road closures would prevent the safe operation of school transportation,” Charlton County Schools said in a statement.

The Charlton County Emergency Management Agency ordered the mandatory evacuation for all residents after the fire jumped Interstate 94 and was heading toward the Canaday Loop and Moniac communities.

“First responders are not coming door to door because they are fighting this approaching fire to try to save your homes,” the Charlton County Emergency Management Agency said in a statement.

The shelter for evacuated residents is at the Camden County Recreation Center in the city of Kingsland.