Local

West Mims fire: Red flag warning for Friday afternoon

LATEST PHOTOS: West Mims wildfire, May 11

More than 725 firefighters are working to contain the West Mims wildfire, which has burned more than 148,000 acres. It is 15 percent contained.

Crews worked overnight to improve containment lines west of St. George, south of GA 94 and north of Road 8, where the fire was most active.

Okefenokee National Wildlife officials said firefighters made great progress suppressing fire that crossed over Highway 94 Thursday afternoon.

Evacuation orders are in place for all people with a St. George or Moniac address. People are asked to take the evacuation order seriously and leave, particularly those in the St. George to “Georgia Bend” to Moniac area south of Highway 94.

Officials are urging more neighbors in South Georgia Friday morning to evacuate as the West Mims Fire continues to grow.

The latest evacuation orders include all homes from the Jim Crawford Loop, south to the Georgia Bend Community.

PHOTOS:

A Red Flag Warning will be in effect later today for our counties in Northeast Florida, which means if any fires ignite, conditions will be ripe for them to spread quickly.

Crews say their control efforts will be challenged over the next few days as they’re doing all they can to try and protect nearby homes, but they are holding the fire in place for now.

“If we get different winds, the fire could again move very quickly,” said Michael Lusk, Refuge Manager for the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

The wind has been bringing the smoke into Northeast Florida and the First Alert weather team says smoke from the West Mims fire will mostly be in Nassau County and Southeast Georgia on Friday.

PHOTOS:

Firefighters say people should try to avoid prolonged outdoor activities… and those with respiratory illnesses should try to avoid being outside altogether.

Officials say the fire is at 15 percent containment, but the fire did grow to 148,066 acres in size.

Florida Governor Rick Scott was keeping a close eye on the fire, which could possibly jump the St. George River into Florida.

“Governor Scott thanks firefighters across the state for their continued dedication to keeping Floridians safe," Scott's office said in a statement. "The Governor has been briefed on the fires on the Florida/Georgia border and has spoken to Bryan Koon of the Division of Emergency Management and James Karels of the Florida Forest Service to offer any support needed from the state.