More information is emerging about a large wildfire that impacted travel on Ga. 365 and threatened homes in Stephens County Saturday.
Stephens County Fire Services units were dispatched to the fire just above Jeanette Jamieson Interchange along Ga. 365 near Toccoa at 3:41 p.m.
"When the first units arrived, they observed a large wildfire moving north from the roadside," said Stephens County Fire Services Coordinator Jamey Gettys.
Several Stephens County fire stations, the Georgia Forestry Commission and several Habersham County fire units responded.
The U.S. Forest Service also responded because the fire was mostly on USFS land, Gettys said.
"They [USFS] called in a helicopter that was dropping water on the fire from the air," Gettys said. "Georgia Forestry and USFS dozers put in a fire break around the fire to stop its progress. A USFS hot shot crew was also in the area from out of town and they assisted."
Gettys said forestry crews set "back fires" to burn out the burned fuels inside the breaks.
"We stationed several fire trucks in the Trestle Ridge Subdivision, The Summit Subdivision and around the rock quary to protect the homes in those areas," Gettys said. "In total, I would estimate that we had about 50 firefighters between all agencies involved, four dozers, a tanker, seven engines and three brush trucks.
"The exact size and cause is undetermined at this time, but the helicopter advised me that it was around 60 acres," Gettys said. "It took about three hours to bring the fire under control. After that, the fire departments left and the Forest Service stayed on scene to continue burnout operations."
The fire and resulting smoke resulted in travel interruptions on Ga. 365 in Stephens and Habersham counties for several hours.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/2/505855/stephens-county-official-provides-details-of-wildfire-on-ga-365