Smyrna sends firefighters to battle North Georgia wildfires

Smyrna firefighters are heading to North Georgia to fight the drought-induced wildfires ripping through the area.

They will head to Hiawassee in Towns County where there is an "imminent threat of structure fires," Smyrna officials said in a Facebook post Thursday.

Map: Georgia's drought and where water restrictions apply

Smoke hit Cobb County hard early this week

In nearby Fannin County, the Rough Ridge fire has burned about 27,000 acres in the Cohutta Wilderness area of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.

The Smyrna Fire Department sent a reserve engine and a three-member crew. Crews will be on 24-hour shifts. The deployment is expected to last four to five days.

Wildfires expected to burn through Thanksgiving

"Our personnel are assisting in the protection and safeguard of residential and structural properties," the city said.

More than 240 people were working to contain the blaze Friday, up from about 190 people. They used two helicopters, four water tankers, seven engines and two bulldozers.

Photos: What's been happening since it last rained in metro Atlanta?

Georgia imposed stiff new water restrictions on 52 counties Thursday as a worsening drought threatened the state's supply.

About the Author

Ben Brasch

Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.

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