Georgia Officials Say Arson Behind Giant Wildfire

Authorities believe arson caused a large wildfire that engulfed more than 2,700 acres of swamp and forest in rural south Georgia, the head of the Georgia Forestry Commission said recently.

Robert Farris said the state is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever started the blaze on Nov. 9 in Clinch County.

No homes have been damaged or destroyed, but the wildfire has smothered nearby communities and highways, including portions of Interstate 75, with thick smoke. Authorities say the smoky conditions have caused several traffic accidents.

“There are large costs involved in the actions resulting from this arsonist,” Farris said. “Think about closing schools and highways down, the impacts on the residents and health concerns with being inundated with smoke for weeks on end.”

Billy Leitch, the Forestry Commission’s lead investigator in the wildfire case, said authorities found physical evidence the fire was started intentionally after tracing the blaze back to its point of origin. He declined to specify what evidence was found, citing the ongoing investigation.

Investigators were also able to rule out other possible causes such as a lightning strike, Leitch said, and the reward offer has already started generating leads.

“We’ve had some tips come in,” Leitch said. “Each one’s being investigated until we can rule them out.”

No arrests had been made in connection with the wildfire, which has burned since Nov. 9 in the 6,000-acre Arabia Bay swamp near the Georgia-Florida state line.

This week, firefighters said the blaze was 100 percent contained although it was still producing smoke that could reduce visibility on some roadways.