National Weather Service forecast for Gainesville
How to help
The Times will have a van in front of its building at 345 Green St., Gainesville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday collecting supplies for Georgia Forestry Commission firefighters battling the wildfires. Anyone is welcome to bring items and “pack the van.” The Times will deliver the supplies to the Forestry Commission office. A forestry commission representative said the following items are needed:
• Bottled sports drinks
• Bottled water
• Hand sanitizer
• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen
• Prepackaged, single-serve, nonperishable, cookless meals or snacks
High winds along with continued dry conditions have complicated efforts to fight wildfires in the North Georgia mountains, but fire crews have made progress in controlling the blazes.
The National Weather Service has issued wind and freeze advisories for much of North Georgia, along with a fire weather watch and red flag warning for fire danger. The lack of rainfall, along with winds gusting up to 35 mph, have put the fire area under a red flag warning.
The largest wildfire, the Rough Ridge Fire in the Cohutta Wilderness section of the Chattahoochee National Forest, still is only 45 percent contained, according to forestry officials. The fire covers 27,870 acres in Northwest Georgia, with 234 fire crew personnel battling it.
Around a dozen wildfires have burned an estimated 38,859 acres since Oct. 5. Among the fires not yet fully contained are the Rock Mountain Fire in Rabun and Towns counties; the Timber Ridge fire in Rabun; and the Cooper’s fire in Union County.
Crews have been patrolling the perimeter of the fire area and putting out hot spots they find to keep it contained. The northernmost portion of the fire is in a remote area monitored by ground and air crews.
A total fire ban is in place within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, which includes campfires and grills. Fuel stoves only are allowed.
Air quality remains a problem for sensitive groups, including children and the elderly, in the immediate fire area. The strong winds have blown much of the smoke away from residential areas in Hall County and metro Atlanta.
Temperatures are expected to fall near freezing in the area overnight, with highs today only expected to reach the lower 50s. Winds could continue to gust up to 30 mph.