• Two large wildfires in south Georgia have burned approximately 54,000 acres and are now 90% contained.
• Suppression costs for the fires are estimated to exceed $18.3 million, with crews still managing hot spots.
• Georgia remains in an extreme drought, increasing the risk of fires throughout the summer.

Two large wildfires burning in south Georgia were now 90% contained, as of Wednesday, after consuming about 54,000 acres, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission.

The Pineland Road Fire has burned 32,575 acres. The Highway 82 Fire has burned 22,420 acres.

However, fuel conditions remain extremely dry, officials said. Containment continues to improve on both fires, but crews remain actively engaged in patrol, suppression, and mop-up operations.

Seth Hawkins, urban and community forestry program coordinator for the Georgia Forestry Commission, worked on the Highway 82 Fire in Brantley County, which is still about 22,000 acres. Suppression costs are estimated to exceed $18.3 million.

“The rain put out the active flame on that fire,” Hawkins said. “However, there’s still that deep layer, that organic material, burning, and hot spots can still flare up as soon as humidity drops.”

Hawkins said 166 people are still working hot spots on the Highway 82 fire, setting up sprinkler systems where needed.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday marked the opening of Georgia’s newest behavioral health crisis center.

The new state-of-the-art facility, operated by Serenity Behavioral Health Systems, officially opened at 3421 Mike Padgett Highway.

The center was made possible through a state investment, including nearly $14 million in construction funding and $9.4 million for operations provided by the state.

The center replaces Serenity’s previous 16-bed crisis stabilization unit, which served the community for 17 years with funding support from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

Expanded capacity

The new facility significantly expands crisis response capacity and includes:

• 24 crisis stabilization unit beds.
• 16 temporary 23-hour observation chairs,
• Capacity to serve up to 40 people at once.
• Staff increases from about 200 to 245

“We care. We’re here to help people. We’re here to serve,” said Chuck Williamson, the CEO of Serenity Behavioral Health.

The center will provide short-term stabilization, assessment and treatment services for individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use crises.

People can seek services voluntarily or be referred through law enforcement, hospitals or the courts. The typical stay is three to five days but can be as long as 10 days.

Meeting community need

Bethany Trapp and Lt. Sean Rhodes say they head into encampments and wooded areas twice a month, connecting people in crisis to help.

“We go out and seek out these individuals that aren’t coming for resources, that may be suffering from a mental health situation,” said Rhodes, a lieutenant with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Homeless Outreach Team.

“We actually came across a couple of folks this morning who are in the middle of drug use, who said, ‘I want to get clean,’” said Trapp, program coordinator for CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority’s Marion Barnes Center.

Rhodes said law enforcement is often first on scene, and with emergency rooms and jails serving as the overflow for people in crisis, the need for this expansion goes beyond the new facility.

“This will take a lot of pressure off of the courts, off the jails, off law enforcement. There’s finally a place that’s very much dedicated and specialized in helping people when they have a crisis of those types,” Williamson said.

Part of statewide strategy

The opening of the Augusta Behavioral Health Crisis Center is part of Georgia’s broader strategy to build a stronger, more responsive behavioral health system focused on early intervention, crisis stabilization and long-term recovery support.

In the past five years, the state has started developing five new crisis center locations in Clayton, Fulton, Laurens and Richmond counties.

“This center represents hope for individuals and families experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis while also providing critical support to hospitals, law enforcement, and emergency responders throughout the region,” Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kevin Tanner said at Wednesday’s ceremony.

“For the first time, in my lifetime, I see that behavioral health and mental health is being given respect and parity with primary care and physical health care,” Williamson said.

Officials with Serenity Behavioral Health said the timeline to move into the new facility is still being finalized, but they expect the transition to take place in June.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson will host a free Vidalia sweet onion giveaway during this month’s Food Truck Family Friday.

This month’s event will be on Friday at 4104 Windsor Spring Road from 5-9 p.m.

Community members are invited to enjoy an evening of food, music and fellowship while picking up complimentary Georgia-grown Vidalia onions.

“We’re proud to support Georgia’s largest industry and celebrate another Georgia Grown product this spring,” said Johnson.

The event will feature more than 30 food trucks and food vendors, live music and a family-friendly atmosphere.

It is free and open to the public.