The historic 2007 Georgia wildfires : learning from the past, planning for the future

GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION

The Historic 2007 Georgia Wildfires
Learning from the Past Planning for the Future

Cover photography by Jen Kolb

Georgia experienced an

unprecedented series of wild-

fires in 2007. The Georgia

Forestry Commission led the

effort to control Georgia's

largest wildfire in history,

which burned for more than

two months and destroyed

$65 million in timber.

The Georgia Bay Complex was one of the largest fires in the nation's history.

Figure 1. KBDI May 30 Figure 2. Fire Danger Rating May 30 Figure 3. Georgia Fire Map 2

When and How the Georgia Bay Complex Fires Began On April 16, a downed power line started the Sweat Farm Road fire southwest of Waycross, GA. When it entered the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge on April 21, it was renamed Big Turnaround. Close by, the Bugaboo fire was ignited by lightning on May 5. By May 20, the fires converged and became the Georgia Bay Complex one of the largest fires in the South and, indeed, in the nation.
Extreme Drought Figure 1 shows the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) at the height of the fires. These dry conditions created extreme fire danger over most of Georgia, as shown in Figure 2.
Excess Forest Fuels In addition to parched conditions, prescribed burning had not been done on much of the land, which added to combustible fuels. Sparks from the downed power line ignited these fuels and the fire spread rapidly, consuming 20,000 acres within the first 48 hours.

In Georgia, 441,705 acres burned on the following properties: Corporate Land: 70,529 acres Non-Industrial Private Land: 19,129
acres Dixon Memorial State Forest: 19,187
acres US Dept. of Interior Easements: 6,344
acres Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge: 326,516
acres
In the 21-County Governor Declared Emergency Area, an additional 21,048 acres burned.
Total Estimated Losses: $65 million in timber $31 million for replanting 9 homes

Acreage Consumed The Georgia Bay Complex burned over 564,450 acres in Georgia and Florida as shown in Figure 3.

Highly combustible, excess ground cover fueled the rapid spread of the fire.

The Georgia Forestry Commission Coordinated the Largest Fire Siege in the State's History The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), the agency responsible for protecting people, property and forests from wildfire, led the firefighting effort operating under the Incident Command System. The System provided Incident Management Teams of trained professionals who work together as a unit to manage an emergency or large incident.

Over 1,500 firefighters, supported by an armada of heavy equipment, simultaneously fought the fires during peak periods.

Firefighters, led by the Georgia Forestry Commission, worked around the clock to contain the fires.
Georgia Firefighters Were Aided by Colleagues from Across the Country and from Other Countries More than 3,300 firefighters and other personnel from 44 states, Canada and Puerto Rico worked together to battle the blazes. The cooperative efforts of many state, federal and local organizations, community leaders, and volunteers helped ensure damage was kept to a minimum.
Fighting These Historic Fires Required Experience, the Right Strategy, the Right People and Long, Hard Hours Fighting the Georgia wildfires of 2007 was hard, dirty, and dangerous work.

Fire behavior was extreme with frequent Engine Crews launched initial attack on

fire tornadoes and flame lengths of more fires in their immediate area. Trucks

than 100 feet. Normal fire suppression equipped with water, pumps, hose, and

strategy did not work. Using crawler

tools were used to soak firebreaks and halt

tractors and wildland fire engines, fire- the spread of fire.

fighters worked shifts of 10 to 12-plus Hand Crews constructed fuel breaks using

hours constructing spaces in the fuel, or hand tools. They also "mopped-up" by

"firebreaks." They also slowed the spread attacking hot spots within fire

of fires using backfires, fire engines, heli- containment lines.

copters, air tankers, and other tools.

Air Crews slowed advance of fast moving

fires to allow more direct suppression on

Firefighters worked

the ground, performed

on one of four crew

initial attack on re-

types:

mote fires and con-

Tractor-Plow Crews

ducted water drops

installed firebreaks,

with helicopter buck-

a plowed `road' of

ets. Air tankers

mineral soil, ap-

dropped fire retardant

proximately 45

and conducted FLIR

feet wide, to sepa-

(Forward Looking

rate fire from addi-

Infrared) imaging to

tional fuel. Rangers

identify fire perimeter

set "backfires" at

and hotspots.

the edge of the

firebreak to burn

towards the main

fire front. When

the two fires met,

flammable material

was exhausted, thus GFC heavy equipment was subjected to extreme wear extinguishing the and tear in these unprecedented conditions.

fire.

3

How the Cost is Measured While estimates have been made of the total cost of the Georgia Bay Complex and 21-county area fires, the real cost may not be known for quite a while. In addition to the known costs of firefighting, lost timber, reforestation and rehabilitation, and equipment depreciation, there are many hidden costs. They include lost jobs, lost days of work, lost homes and personal belongings, health problems, and lost productivity, as well as temporary loss of tourism and recreational opportunities.

To date, known costs for the fighting, lost timber and recovery include: Firefighting: $44 million Lost timber: $65 million Reforestation: $31 million Rehabilitation: $2.9 million Additional losses are expected to emerge, thus adversely impacting the $27.7 billion contributed annually to the state's economy by Georgia's forests, as well as the $580 million in annual tax revenue contributions.

Both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters were necessary to suppress the fires. Here a helicopter catches a spot fire across the firebreak before it gains momentum.

Impact of the Fires on People's Lives During the peak of the fires, over 6,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes because of risks posed by wildfires and heavy smoke. Nine homes and many structures were destroyed, leaving several families homeless.

Reduced business activity in important centers of commerce in Georgia's major cities

Near Folkston, GA, a long column of smoke stretches across the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Fortunately, no lives were lost, but the impact of these fires will be remembered and felt for years: Residential, school and business
evacuations School closures in Ware, Brantley and
Pierce Counties Travel restrictions for residents,
tourists and commercial traffic with multiple county, state and interstate road closures Inconvenience from smoke which spread across major cities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama

Precise teamwork kept helicopter water drops on target.

4

What's Next? Southeast Georgia forestland owners have suffered economically and psychologically by watching years of their investments in time and resources destroyed, some in a single day. Whether the fires burned thousands of acres of industrial timberland, or engulfed a family-owned forestland of less than one hundred acres, affected owners have been set back. Many are left with a sense of helplessness about what the future holds for their families.

The Georgia Forestry Commission is leading Land Rehabilitation efforts and is working to protect the watershed through reforestation. The GFC is helping landowners with reforestation efforts, providing information about erosion control methods, and coordinating efforts to provide Emergency Temporary Repairs to the affected land. The repairs focus on eliminating hazards created by fire and firebreak construction.
The GFC conducted meetings in counties affected by the fires and is providing on-going support
At the request of GFC and the Georgia Forestry Association, the Georgia Department of Transportation temporarily increased the legal load limit for log trucks to help with Timber Salvage. GFC and GFA are also matching wood buyers with landowners to provide a market for burned and beetle-killed timber. Landowner meetings were conducted in most communities affected by the fires.

Both homeowners and timberland property owners experienced a sense of helplessness as the fires destroyed years of investment and hard work.

Restoration and rehabilitation may take years to complete and for results to be seen. The GFC is helping local communities with restoration work. With the support and help of the residents, along with the advice of natural resource professionals, restoration and rehabilitation work can be successful.
The destruction caused by these historic wildland fires is only part of the story. Nature will eventually restore the burned areas, but when communities and local, state and federal agencies team up, it virtually assures the legacy of the land will continue.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service acted quickly to secure federal funds to help affected landowners with reforestation efforts.
Additional federal and state funds are being sought, and a 501(C)3 account is being established to accept private donations to help with restoration and recovery efforts.

Restoration of Georgia's burned timberlands will take years and will require the partnership of government, forest landowners and local communities.

5

The Fires of 2007 Sparked Innovative Ways to Fight, Manage and Prevent Wildfires There were several "firsts" for the GFC in dealing with the wildfires of 2007. The most significant of these have merited further development as effective tools in wildfire fighting, management, prevention and recovery.

Instant communication and coordination helped control the fire by containing the spread of new burns.

The Fires of 2007 gave birth to a new generation of firefighting techniques and concepts.
The GFC Mop-Up Command This group was created to manage the time-consuming process of extinguishing burning materials around firebreak perimeters. Teams used hand tools and water to stop fire jumps and hot spots. They serviced the 21-county declared emergency area to free initial attack resources for new fires.
Over 70 fires were started by arsonists during the fire siege and spread quickly in the explosive forest fuels. 6

The Joint Information Center

Wildfire Prevention Teams

This strategic organization was estab-

These critical advance teams provided

lished to provide critical and accurate in- information and education for property

formation to the appropriate authorities and homeowners regarding wildfire

and media. It ensured that fire and smoke status, risk, and prevention. The teams'

advisories, road closings and weather up- accomplishments include:

dates were transmitted on a timely basis. Traveling to threatened communities

ahead of the fire to educate homeowners

The Wildfire Arson Task Force

about Firewise practices

This first of a kind force was established Assisting with town meetings,

and composed of investigators from

attending public events, and working

forestry agencies in 8 states, GFC, GBI,

with the media

Georgia Department of Corrections,

Going door-to-door in threatened

Department of Home-

neighborhoods,

land Security, county sheriffs' deputies, and

Atlanta Journal Constitution recommending
specific actions to

four bloodhounds. The purpose was to maintain a strategic focus on wildfire arson within the 21county area. Accomplishments include: 12 arrests for arson &
related crimes Over 100 other leads
on more than 70 wildfires

GEORGIA'S WILDFIRES: $100 MILLION UP IN SMOKE By Dan Chapman The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 07/11/07
Jimmy Brown hoped he'd seen the last of the Great Fire of '07, the largest wildfire ever to burn Georgia.
"It was putting up some pretty good smoke Sunday. We still have some hot spots in the Okefenokee," Brown, fire chief for Ware County, said Tuesday. "But it's not likely to come out of the swamp."
For two months, starting in midApril, the fire in Southeast Georgia raged, waned, raged anew and spilled into Florida before heavy rains and firefighters from 44 states, Puerto Rico and Canada put it out. Even Atlantans, 215 miles to the north, awoke a couple of mornings to hazy, smoky skies.

Local and state officials say the destruction tops $100 million so far in Georgia alone. Remarkably, nobody died. And less than two dozen structures --- houses, trailers and sheds --- burned.
"When the challenge came, we met it," Brown said. "But we hope we never see that kind of fire again." - $44.1 million cost to fight the fire - $11 million (estimate) covered by
state of Georgia - $33.1 million (estimate) expected
to be covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency - Firefighters came from 44 states, Puerto Rico and Canada - Main counties affected: Ware, Charlton, Clinch - 3,326 people fought the fire - $60 million estimated value of timber lost - 440,732 acres burned in Georgia - 560,000 total acres burned, including Florida

Effective investigation, detection and prosecution of

A July, 2007, editorial in the Atlanta Journal Constitution summed up the devastation of the fires: $100 Million Up In Smoke."

make it easier for firefighters to protect homes Producing wild-
fire prevention public service announcements and media materials

offenders

Prevention of new wildfires

Climate Change Makes Planning for Future Needs Even More Critical As drought and warmer temperatures become more frequent, the likelihood of wildfires increases. The GFC is committed to developing programs and resources to more effectively deal with prevention, management and suppression of wildfires, as well as improve recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

Georgia 50-Year Wildfire History

It is the GFC's mission to sustainably manage forests to meet the social, economic, ecological, and cultural needs of present and future generations. These needs include forest products and services such as wood products, water, fuel, shelter, employment, recreation, habitats for wildlife, and scenic diversity. To sustain these full, multiple values, appropriate measures must be taken to protect forests against harmful effects of fires, pests and diseases.
GFC Recommended Actions to Mitigate Future Fire Losses: Create a more fire resistant landscape by reducing dangerous fuel loading through: Prescribed burning Herbicide and mechanical treatments Pine straw harvesting practices Firebreak management Linear wildlife food plots, silvopasture,
and openings Wider unplanted buffers adjacent to
wetland areas Wider road shoulders managed as
openings GIS mapping of all fuel mitigation
zones (lines of defense)
GFC prescribed burning professionals work to reduce the risks posed by excess forest fuel accumulations.

The wildfires of 2007 were the largest and costliest ever recorded - underscoring the need for better planning and additional resources.

Support reforestation efforts by planting:

Develop options that help forest landowners

Longleaf pine on appropriate sites for a manage and keep their property:

more fire tolerant species

Prescribed burning teams to treat

Rows along wetland contours, allowing

high risk areas

more effective fire suppression breaks

Short and long-term conservation

Wider-spaced rows in fuel mitigation

easements

zones

Conservation Use

Support critical programs: GFC operations Fire department
cooperator training Incident management training for industry cooperators and heavy equipment contractors Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners

Waycross

Nahunta

Manor Argyle
Homersville

Hoboken
Homestead Folkston

Fargo

St. George

Wildire Area
Many dwellings in the Wildland Urban Interface areas (shown in dark gray), where development meets the forest, could have been destroyed if the suppression efforts had not been successful.

Valuation Assessment Tax options for landowners participating in conservation and fuel mitigation practices Practices and markets that utilize forest brush and premerchantable trees (i.e. biomass to energy) Cost-share programs that promote fuel reduction, fire management, fire recovery, and conservation practices

(GOAL) Swamp Perimeter Road and Swamp
Perimeter Firebreaks enhancement Community Wildfire Protection
Plans and Firewise Communities Georgia Recognizes Our Woodland
Stewards (GROWS) program

"The wildfires of 2007 stretched the resources of state and federal agencies, industry, and private landowners. The extreme fire behavior should not be considered an isolated, one time event. We can expect these conditions to occur again. However, with enhanced support,

Wetland Reserve Program

funding, and cooperative actions of all our

Wildfire Prevention Education

partners, the enormous suppression costs and

devastating losses can be greatly reduced."

-Robert Farris, Interim GFC Director

7

P.O. Box 819 Macon, Ga. 31202 Toll-free 1-800-GA-TREES GaTrees.org
An Equal Opportunity Employer & Service Provider

GFC District Offices
Rome 3086 Martha Berry Hwy NE Rome GA 30165 706-295-6021/6022 706-295-6921

Newnan 187 Corinth Rd Newnan GA 30263 770-254-7218 770-254-7371

Gainesville 3005 Atlanta Hwy Gainesville GA 30507 770-531-6043/6048 770-531-4080

Milledgeville 119 Hwy 49 Milledgeville GA 31061 478-445-5164/5548 478-445-2897

Washington 1465 Tignall Rd Washington GA 30673 706-678-2015 706-678-1766

McRae Route 1 Box 67 Helena GA 31037 229-868-3385 229-868-3387

Americus 243 US Hwy 19 North Americus GA 31709 229-931-2436/2437 229-931-2762
Waycross 5003 Jacksonville Hwy Waycross GA 31503 912-287-4915 912-284-2911
Camilla 3561 Hwy 112 Camilla GA 31730 229-522-3580/3581 229-522-3583

Statesboro 18899 US Hwy 301 North Statesboro GA 30461 912-681-0490/0496 912-871-1719

The Bottom Line
The total GFC 2007 State appropriation was $39.7 million for all programs (including $29.2 million for forest protection)
GFC 2007 expenditures totaled $81.5 million (including an unappropriated $36.3 million for unprecedented wildfire suppression activities)
A total of 9,532 fires burned a total of 504,000 acres
Over $65 million worth of timber was lost (not including the other economic, environmental and social losses)
Adequate funding for preventative measures could have saved thousands of acres of timberland and millions of dollars in fire protection and suppression

2007 Appropriated Expenditures $29.2 Million

2007 GFC Actual Forest Protection Expenditures: $65.5 Million
2007 Unappropriated Expenditures $36.3 Million

P1 - 300 - 01-08