WAYCROSS, Ga. – A wildfire in southeastern Georgia has burned more than 45,000 acres, 10,000 of them in the last 24 hours.
A spokesman for the Georgia Forestry Commission said the fire is only 35 percent contained, but winds out of the east on Saturday were pushing it away from Waycross. The city of more than 15,000 is just northeast of the blaze.
People in the smaller communities of Manor and Homerville, which are in the fire's path, were being asked to be alert and watch for the approaching fire.
About 1,000 people were forced to evacuate earlier in the week, and 5,000 more were urged to leave their homes voluntarily on Friday because of potential health hazards from heavy smoke.
About 18 homes have been destroyed by the fire, which started Monday when a tree fell on a power line.
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