Waycross, Ga.
Wildfires flared up in drought-stricken southeast Georgia, destroying several buildings and forcing hundreds of fire-weary residents to leave their homes for the second time in two days.Deputies on Thursday visited about 100 homes in and near Astoria, a tiny community three miles southeast of Waycross, asking people to leave as a wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp approached.
Most had just returned home after evacuating for several hours Wednesday. In the past 11 days, fires have blackened 95 square miles — or about 61,100 acres — of parched forest and swamp. Officials said 18 homes were destroyed.
"My nerves just can't take it anymore," said Mary Howell, 51, as she packed stacks of framed family photos in the trunk of her Lincoln Towncar for the second time in two days. "I haven't slept in a week since this stuff started."
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