THE STATE OF GEORGIA

EXECUTIVE ORDER

BY THE GOVERNOR:

STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR 
GEORGIA WILDFIRES

WHEREAS: Severe drought conditions existing across southeastern Georgia have created an extreme and widespread threat for wildfires; and

WHEREAS: The National Weather Service reports an elevated fire danger across southeastern Georgia as gusty winds and low humidity continue to exacerbate persistent drought conditions; and

WHEREAS: Since April 18, 2026, the Georgia Forestry Commission has responded to over 90 wildfires in the State; and

WHEREAS: As of April 22, 2026, the Pineland Road Fire in Clinch and Echols Counties has already burned approximately 16,516 acres and is only 10 percent contained, and the Highway 82 Wildfire in Brantley County has burned over 5,000 acres and is only 10 percent contained; and

WHEREAS: These unprecedented fire occurrences have spread and intensified rapidly due to the woody debris remaining in South Georgia from Hurricane Helene; and

WHEREAS: In response to the multiple active wildfires, many local governments have issued evacuation orders and local burning bans; and

WHEREAS: Due to the hazardous wildfire conditions throughout the State, on April 22, 2026, the Georgia Forestry Commission issued a 30-day ban on outdoor burning across 91counties; and

WHEREAS: On April 21 and 22, 2026, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Georgia's request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant for the Pineland Road Wildfire and the Highway 82 Wildfire, respectively; and

WHEREAS: The wildfires, combined with extreme to exceptional drought conditions and ample dry fuel, pose a significant threat to prope1ty, critical infrastructure, natural resources, communities, and the general safety and welfare of the people of Georgia; and

WHEREAS: Assistance from the State is necessary to prepare for and respond to the evolving threats and circumstances in connection with existing wildfires and enhanced fire risks, as ·well as the corresponding hazardous conditions and anticipated impacts; and

WHEREAS: The Governor is vested with the emergency powers cited herein as the Chief Executive of this State; and

WHEREAS: As Chief Executive, the Governor is tasked with declaring a state of emergency "[i]n the event of [an] actual or impending emergency or disaster of natural or human origin ... within or affecting this [S]tate" under Code Section 38-3-51(a); and

WHEREAS: Code Section 12-6-89 establishes the Governor1s authority "to declare and determine the existence and termination of' an extreme forest fire emergency and to "direct and commandeer all state agencies and personnel to assist the State Forest1y Commission in such emergency"; and

WHEREAS: Code Section 12-6-17 allows the Director of the State Forest1y Commission to "prohibit the setting on fire of any woods, lands, marshes, refuse, or other combustible materials within any county or counties or within any area within a county, or may permit such burning only upon such conditions and under such regulations as in his judgment are necessary and proper to prevent the destruction of property"; and

WHEREAS: Code Section 38-3-51(c) vests the Governor with the authority to bring emergency situations under control by issuing orders, rules, and regulations to protect the safety and welfare of the public; and

WHEREAS: Code Section 38-3-28 provides that "[a]ll orders, rules, and regulations promulgated by the Governor" have the force and effect of law; and

WHEREAS: In consultation with state emergency preparedness officials, I have determined that the following actions are necessary and appropriate to protect the continued strength of Georgia1s economy and provide for the health, safety, and welfare of Georgia's residents and visitors.

NOW, THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO CODE SECTIONS 38-3-28 AND 38-3-51, AND THE AUTHORITYVESTED IN MEAS GOVERNOR OFTHE STATE OF GEORGIA, IT IS HEREBY

ORDERED: That a State of Emergency exists in the following counties due to the prevailing wildfires and enhanced fire risks: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Harris, Houston, ln\':in, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgome1y, Muscogee, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Screven, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, and Worth counties (the "Affected Counties").

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That all resources of the State of Georgia be made available to assist in preparation, response, and recovery activities throughout the State, and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency shall activate the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan and the Georgia State Operations Center.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That state agencies shall coordinate all public and emergency information, activities, releases, and response efforts related to this emergency v1rith the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That the Georgia Department of Transpo1tation and Georgia Department of Public Safety shall take all necessary action to ensure the expeditious movement of equipment and personnel associated with firefighter mobilization, as necessa1y and appropriate, through the State.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That state agencies shall provide sufficient personnel required for the staffing of the Georgia State Operations Center or other command, control, and coordination points as may be designated by the Director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and shall provide such personnel, vehicles, equipment, and other resources needed to protect life and property and to ensure continuation, restoration, and recove1y of essential public services.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That the Administrative Order from the Georgia Forestry Commission instituting a temporary burn ban in the Affected Counties, issued on April 22, 2026, and attached hereto, is hereby incorporated into this order. Said Administrative Order shall become a part of this Order and shall continue in force and effect so long as this Order is in effect.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That the Georgia Depa1tment of Defense provide up to one hundred and fifty (150) Georgia National Guard troops to be used in preparation, response, and recovery efforts for this State of Emergency, including all appropriate equipment.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That said Georgia National Guard troops be called up to State Active Duty as necessary by the Adjutant General.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: Pursuant to Code Section 10-1-393.4, price gouging related to goods and services necessary for preparation, response, and recove1y activities for this State of Emergency, including motor fuel, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products, would be detrimental to the social and economic welfare of the citizens of this State and is therefore prohibited.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That if one or more of the provisions contained in this Order shall be held to be invalid, in violation of the Georgia Constitution, in violation of Georgia law, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, violation, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Order, but, in such case, this Order shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been contained within the Order.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That no provision of this Order shall limit, infringe, suspend, or supplant any judicial order, judgment, or decree issued pursuant to the laws or constitution of this State or the laws or Constitution of the United States, nor shall any person use any provision this Order as a defense to an action in violation of a judicial order, judgment, or decree by any court created pursuant to the laws or constitution of this State or the laws or Constitution of the United States.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That this Order does not suspend operation of any state or federal law or regulation, except as specifically described herein.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: The Office of the Governor may continue to issue guidance on the scope of this Order as needed through communication media, including social media, without need for further Executive Orders.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: All provisions of the Order shall be effective upon signature and shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) days, expiring Friday, May 22, 2026, at11:59 P.M. unless this State of Emergency is renewed by the Governor.

This 22nd day of April 2026.
 

Brian P. Kemp
Governor   

GEORGIA FORESTRY
COMMISSION    

Administrative Order Instituting Burn Ban in 91 Counties

WHEREAS: Pursuant to Code Section 12-6-83, the Georgia Forestry Commission, through the Director, is charged with directing and supervising all forest fire protection work in the state; and

WHEREAS: Code Section 12-6-17 provides that the Director may issue an order banning outdoor burning in one or more counties when, in his or her judgment, "drought or other conditions" make controlled burns of "woods, lands, marshes, refuse, or other combustible materials" unusually hazardous; and

WHEREAS: Such an order shall have the force and effect of law; and

WHEREAS: South Georgia is in exceptional drought conditions that continue to worsen; and

WHEREAS: There are presently an unusually large number of active wildfires in the state, many of which started from outdoor burns; and

WHEREAS: A temporary burn ban is necessary to preserve life and property due to unusually hazardous conditions.

THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO CODE SECTION 12-6-17, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

That a temporary ban on the burning of any woods, lands, marshes, refuse, or other combustible materials shall go into effect in the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Clay, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Glynn, Grady, Harris, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lee, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, Macon, Marion, McDuffie, McIntosh, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Muscogee, Peach, Pierce, Pulaski, Quitman, Randolph, Richmond, Screven, Schley, Seminole, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson, Worth (the "Affected Counties").

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That such temporary ban shall apply to all activities subject to regulation by the State Forestry Commission, including, but not limited to, prescribed silvicultural burns, agricultural burns, and the burning of leaf piles or yard debris, regardless of whether such activities require a permit from the State Forestry Commission.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That no permits for burning shall be issued in the Affected Counties for the duration of this Order.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That if one or more provisions in this Order shall be held to be invalid, in violation of the Georgia Constitution, in violation of Georgia law, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, violation, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Order, and, in such case, this Order shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been contained within the Order.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That no provision of this Order shall limit, infringe, suspend, or supplant any judicial order, judgment, or decree issued pursuant to the laws or constitution of this State or the laws or constitution of the United States, nor shall any person use any provision of this Order as a defense to an action in violation of a judicial order, judgment, or decree by any court created pursuant to the laws or constitution of this State or the laws or Constitution of the United States.

IT IS FURTHER

ORDERED: That all provisions of this Order shall be effective upon signature and shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) days, expiring Friday, May 22, 2026, at 11:59 P.M., unless extended by the Director.

This 22. day of April 2026.

John J. Sabo                                             
Director, Georgia Forestry Commission