Two members of Walker County Fire Rescue recently returned home after assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in Southeast Georgia, where wildfires have burned more than 50,000 acres.
Lt. Charles Eich and Firefighter Kotah Keith were deployed to the Waynesville area near Nahunta on April 29 and remained on assignment until May 4. The firefighters were part of a task force assembled to support ongoing wildfire operations in the region.
While deployed, Eich and Keith’s primary responsibility was suppressing remaining active fire areas and preventing flare-ups in locations where smaller fires continued to burn. Their work helped crews contain the wildfires and reduce the risk of further spread.
According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Pineland Road Fire and the Highway 82 Fire are both approximately 90 percent contained. However, officials say the fires remain active, and crews continue daily monitoring efforts for hotspots, lingering smoke, and potential reburns as mop-up operations continue.
The deployment highlights the role local firefighters play in statewide emergency response efforts, providing assistance to communities impacted by large-scale natural disasters.
Walker County Fire Rescue praised the efforts of Eich and Keith for representing the department and assisting fellow Georgians during the wildfire response.