FORSYTH, Ga. (WTOC) – The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF) presented an $85,000 grant to the Brantley County Family Connection to support local families recovering from the historic Highway 82 wildfire. The funding will help more than 30 families repair and replace vital infrastructure, including private wells and septic systems. Earlier this year, Brantley County suffered the most destructive wildfire for residential property loss in Georgia’s history. The Highway 82 Fire burned 22,419 acres, destroyed 110 homes, and damaged another 27. At the same time, firefighters battled the nearby 10,000-acre Pineland Road Fire, stretching South Georgia’s emergency services to their limits. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Full account of Highway 82 fire: Historic destruction, massive response detailed by state officials “What happened in Brantley County reminds us that forestry is more than an industry, it’s a community,” said Tim Lowrimore, President and CEO of the Georgia Forestry Association. “The overwhelming generosity shown through the Georgia Forestry Foundation’s first-ever wildfire relief fund reflects a spirit of altruism that has always been at the heart of Georgia forestry.” GFF established the Forest Wildfire Recovery Fund in April to provide direct assistance to forest landowners, local families, wildland firefighters, and rural communities affected by the historic fires. The foundation launched the fund with an initial $10,000 commitment. Since then, the broader Georgia forestry…
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