Hwy 301

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Hwy 301 Fire (also referred to as the Charlton Highway 301 Fire) ignited on the afternoon of Sunday, February 22, 2026. It started near U.S. Highway 301 and Humphries Road, just north of Folkston in Charlton County, Georgia.
Size and Containment: As of the most recent updates from Tuesday, February 24, the fire has burned approximately 697 acres (reported variously as nearly 700 acres). Fire crews have made significant progress, with reports indicating the fire is 90% to 100% contained.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire exhibited rapid growth initially, fueled by extremely dry vegetation and strong winds. It quickly expanded from an initial 100 acres to over 550 acres within just a few hours on Sunday. The fire consumed timber, brush, and grass, with wind gusts driving the flames through the drought-stressed landscape.
Containment Efforts: The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), along with Charlton County Fire Rescue and units from neighboring counties (including Camden County and assistance from Florida), responded with heavy equipment and aircraft. Crews have been conducting mop-up operations to extinguish hotspots and reinforce containment lines.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Status: All evacuation orders have been lifted.
History: On Sunday, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents on Humphries Road, Bill Knight Road, Willow Creek Road, Harold White Road, and the Forest Lake area. Residents were allowed to return to their homes by Sunday night as containment improved.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• U.S. Highway 301: The highway was temporarily closed during the height of the fire on Sunday to allow emergency equipment to operate but has since reopened to traffic.
• Local Roads: Humphries Road and other local streets in the fire zone are open, though residents should remain cautious of emergency vehicles and utility crews still working in the area.

For more information, visit:

• Georgia Forestry Commission Facebook
• Charlton County Emergency Management Agency
• 511 Georgia Traffic Information

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been no reported injuries or fatalities associated with this fire.
Structures Impacted: While no primary residences were reported destroyed, the fire caused significant property damage.

• A local salvage yard on Humphries Road suffered heavy losses, with an estimated 80-90 vehicles destroyed.
• Residents reported the loss of outbuildings, including sheds, barns, and equipment such as tractors and tools.
• Approximately 75 homes were threatened during the fire's peak.
  Notable Impacts: Significant amounts of timberland and fencing were burned. The smoke from the fire was visible for miles, impacting air quality in Folkston and drifting across the state line into Northeast Florida.

Safety Concerns:
Burn Bans: Due to the dry conditions, officials have urged residents to avoid outdoor burning. Debris burning is highly discouraged as underlying drought conditions persist.
Air Quality: Smoke may continue to linger in the immediate vicinity of the burn scar. Residents with respiratory issues should monitor local conditions.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: With containment at or near 100%, the threat of significant growth has subsided. Crews remain on scene to monitor for flare-ups and complete mop-up operations.
Weather and Wind Warnings:

• Current Conditions: Today (Wednesday, Feb 25) brings cloudy skies and higher humidity, which is aiding containment efforts.
• Forecast: Rain is in the forecast for Friday, February 27, with chances as high as 75%. This moisture will likely fully extinguish remaining hotspots.
• Alerts: The Red Flag Warnings issued earlier in the week have expired, but a general caution remains due to the long-term dryness of the vegetation.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: Preliminary investigations by emergency management indicate the fire was likely caused by a downed power line.
Weather and Climate: The rapid spread of this fire was directly linked to extreme fire weather conditions. The region had been under a Red Flag Warning due to low relative humidity (dropping to around 20%) and gusty winds. These conditions, combined with an ongoing "extreme" drought in the area, created a highly volatile environment where a single spark could—and did—lead to rapid fire growth.

For more information, visit:

• Georgia Forestry Commission
• InciWeb (National Incident Information System)
• National Weather Service - Jacksonville (Covers Charlton County)