Georgia Wildfires of 2007 Summary of Facts and Costs for Recovery 
 
Overview of The Fires of 2007 The Georgia Forestry Commission led the battle to control Georgia's largest wildfire in recorded history. The Georgia Bay Complex burned 441,705 acres in Georgia and destroyed 9 homes. 
 
An additional 21,000 acres burned in the 21County Governor Declared Emergency area. 
 
More than 3,300 people from 44 states worked to control the wildfires. 
 
Over $8 million is needed to reforest nonindustrial private land; $2.2 million in cost-share assistance has been procured to date. 
 
Funds are needed to rehabilitate over 352 miles of firebreaks surrounding the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. 
 
During fiscal year 2007, over 9,500 fires burned more than 504,000 acres. The largest ever recorded annual GFC expenditures for fire control efforts totaled over $62,000,000. 
 
Now that The Fires have been controlled, we all have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by the way we manage Georgia's recovery. 
 
The Bottom Line: Damage, Destruction & Cost of The South Georgia Fires of 2007 
 
Jen Kolb 
The GFC is working to refine assessments of damage and recovery beyond preliminary figures presented in this document. 
7/20/2007 
 
Fire Location 
Georgia Bay Complex* 
 
Ownership of Burned Land 
Georgia only 
Corporate Lands Non-Industrial Private Farms DOI Easements State Forests 
 
Acres of Land Burned 441,705 70,529 19,129 6,344 19,187 115,189 
 
Number of Landowners 
11 123 
134 
 
Value of Lost Timber 
 
Acres to Reforest 
 
Estimated Cost To Reforest 
 
$34,971,981 $ 9,485,162 $ 3,145,688 $ 6,605,600 $54,208,431 
 
45,844 12,434 4,124 4,539 66,941 
 
$18,337,540 $ 4,973,540 $ 1,649,440 $ 1,268,000 $26,228,520 
 
21 County 
 
Corporate Lands 
 
9,256 
 
23 
 
Emergency 
 
Declaration Area 
 
Non-Industrial Private Farms 
 
11,792 
 
164 
 
21,048 
 
187 
 
Totals of All Non-Industrial Private Farms 
 
30,921 
 
287 
 
Totals of All Private Lands 
 
117,050 
 
321 
 
*Georgia Bay Complex  Total acres burned in both Georgia and Florida: 564,450 
 
$ 4,589,611 $ 5,847,093 $ 10,436,704 $15,332,255 
$58,039,535 
 
6,016 7,665 13,681 20,099 
76,083 
 
$ 2,406,560 $ 3,065,920 $ 5,472,480 $ 8,039,460 
$30,433,000