American Red Cross offers resources as Pineland Road fire continues to burn

SOUTH GEORGIA (WCTV) - Crews continue to battle multiple wildfires across South Georgia, responding to 10 new fires on Sunday that burned at least 20 acres statewide, according to officials.

The Pineland Road fire burning in Clinch and Echols counties has scorched more than 32,000 acres and is only 10% contained.

As crews work to contain the fire, relief efforts are expanding.

“We’re working really closely with emergency management and fire services just to see what support they need” said Sharon Carraway, executive director of the Red Cross Capital Area Chapter.

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She said volunteers with the American Red Cross South Georgia region are operating shelters and providing meals for evacuated residents.

Volunteers are prepared for situations like this, according to the director. “For shelters, there is training and simulations,” she said. We also have our disaster action teams that go out and handle casework and client care.”

Disaster action teams will conduct damage assessments, while other volunteers will focus on long-term recovery through case management.

“Right now we’re in the height of fire season, and we’ve never had this many fires with Red Cross that we’ve had to respond to in this time frame,” Carraway said.

Volunteers are also helping residents access cleanup supplies and essential items, including medical equipment.

“It’s really important to help,” she said, as many families struggle to know where to begin after a disaster.

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