SCHLATTERVILLE — A fire caused by a locked brake on a CSX train burned approximately 34 acres of wooded area at the Ware County-Brantley County line along Hwy. 82 late Friday afternoon.
There were no structures lost to the fire.
Sparks from the eastbound locomotive caused several wildfires March 28 stretching from Blount Road to Dixon Road north of the east-west track line. Wind and above normal fire conditions pushed flames northerly towards Central Avenue.
There were also some flames running on the southside of the tracks up near Hwy. 82.
“Most of the wildfire was in Brantley County,” said Chris Carter, Georgia Forestry Chief Ranger for Brantley County. “There were about five acres or so in Ware County with the majority in Brantley County.
“We had four bulldozers working like four different fires. I also had four tractor plow units running. It was running north until the sea breeze kind of came in and started pushing the fire back west.
“That’s what helped us with containment and we were able to get a fire break around it.”
Carter said Georgia Forestry personnel worked until approximately 8:30 p.m., Friday returning Saturday morning, March 29 for another five hours checking for hot spots and making sure the fires were contained.
Multiple fire departments from Ware and Brantley counties worked to get the wildfires under control which began at approximately 5 p.m.
According to Nahunta Fire and Rescue, departments and agencies responding were Georgia Forestry, Hoboken Volunteer Fire Department, Calvary Volunteer Fire Department, Hortense Volunteer Fire Department, Waynesville Volunteer Fire Department, Ware County Fire Department and the City of Waycross Fire Department.
The Georgia State Patrol, Ware County Sheriff’s Office and Brantley County Sheriff’s Office helped with traffic. Part of Hwy. 82 west of Schlatterville was closed as well as several roads across the tracks north to Central Avenue.
Officials announced all roadways were reopened at 9 p.m., Friday night and the fire had been contained.
Forestry Chief Ranger Carter said the possibility of a fire breaking away and causing damage is at an extreme high in Georgia.
