Georgia Forestry Commission

29/05/2026

Great information from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency about assistance for those impacted by the recent wildfire in Brantley County!

Businesses and residents affected by the wildfires on April 20, 2026, in Brantley County can now apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) to assist Georgians in the declared county applying for SBA disaster loan assistance.

For more information on how to apply, visit https://gema.georgia.gov/press-releases/2025-08-29/disaster-assistance-available-catoosa-county-opens-disaster-loan-outreach.

29/05/2026

🌲 Please join us in congratulating Chris Howell on his appointment as the Georgia Forestry Commission’s new Associate Chief of Forest Management.

In this leadership role, Chris will help support forest management operations across Georgia, continuing GFC’s work to promote healthy, sustainable forests and provide service to landowners statewide.

Chris brings years of forestry experience and leadership to the position, and we’re excited to see him step into this important role.

📖 Read more:
https://gatrees.org/macon-man-named-associate-chief-of-forest-management/

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

28/05/2026

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Ruby Bynum

Ruby Bynum brings a servant’s heart to everything she does.

An Alamo, Georgia native and Administrative Assistant III for GFC's Region 4, Ruby has been part of the Georgia Forestry Commission family for 10 years—and that word, family, means everything to her.

Married for 36 years, Ruby’s life is full of the people and things she loves most: her two children, four grandchildren, a passion for sewing, and her beloved poodle, Charlie Lucille. And at work?

“We’re like family. I love everybody!” 💚

Thank you, Ruby, for the care, dedication, and heart you bring to GFC every day.

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

27/05/2026

🐛 New Report Available: 2026 Southern Pine Beetle Prediction Survey

The Georgia Forestry Commission’s latest Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Prediction Survey Report is now available.

To complete this year’s survey, GFC placed 50 traps in 50 counties across Georgia, collecting samples weekly for six weeks. The survey tracks both Southern Pine Beetles and clerid beetles, a natural predator of SPB, to help assess potential forest health risks.

📊 Key findings from 2026:
➡️ Statewide average SPB catch: 26.0 beetles per trap per day (moderate range)
➡️ 2025 statewide average: 33.5 beetles per trap per day
➡️ High activity counties (80+ SPB/day): Carroll, Floyd, Polk, Randolph
➡️ Elevated activity counties (50–80 SPB/day): Clarke, Coweta, Dawson, Houston, Macon, Monroe

Southern Pine Beetles remain one of the most destructive forest pests in the South, making early monitoring and awareness critical.

📖 View the full report here:
https://gatrees.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-SPB-Prediction-Full-Report-final.pdf

26/05/2026

🌱 It’s invasive. Aggressive. And bad news for Georgia forests.

Our latest episode of The Georgia Forestry Forum explores the growing threat of cogongrass, an invasive species that can crowd out native vegetation, disrupt forest ecosystems, and create major management challenges.

This clip looks at the broader impact this plant can have on our forests—and why early detection matters.

🎧 Stream The Georgia Forestry Forum wherever you get your podcasts, or listen here:
https://gatrees.org/news/digital-media-toolkit/georgia-forestry-forum-podcast/

25/05/2026

Today, we remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country.

Their sacrifice secured freedoms we often take for granted, and their courage will never be forgotten.

As we spend time with family and loved ones this Memorial Day, we pause in gratitude for those who gave everything.

We remember. We honor.

22/05/2026

🚒 Built for the fight.

This newly completed fire knocker is headed out through Georgia Forestry Commission’s Rural Fire Defense Program, helping equip local fire departments with the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively to wildfires.

Programs like Rural Fire Defense strengthen wildfire response in communities across Georgia by helping local departments access specialized wildland firefighting equipment and training.

Because when wildfire strikes, partnerships matter.

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

20/05/2026

📬 The latest edition of the Georgia Forestry Commission e-Newsletter is here!

Catch up on the latest forestry news from across Georgia, including wildfire response updates, agency news, programs, and more.

If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, now’s a great time to catch up 🌲

📖 Read the latest edition here:
https://mailchi.mp/gfc/gfc-e-news-november-5377312

Want future updates delivered straight to your inbox? Be sure to subscribe!

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

19/05/2026

🔥 Wildfire Update – Georgia (5/19/26)

In the last seven days, the Georgia Forestry Commission responded to 56 wildfires that burned a combined 249.6 acres statewide.

These numbers do not include:
• The Pineland Rd Fire, which has burned 32,031 acres and remains 90% contained (acreage decreased due to more accurate mapping)
• The Highway 82 Fire, which has burned 22,419 acres and remains 90% contained

While containment remains strong, both of these fires are still active. Crews continue daily monitoring for hotspots, smoke, and potential reburns as mop-up operations continue.

⚠️ Safety Reminders:
➡️ Please continue to stay out of active fire areas unless absolutely necessary
➡️ 🚁 Keep drones away from wildfire operations—active airspace restrictions may still be in place
➡️ Use caution if traveling near fire areas where smoke may impact visibility
➡️ For road closure information, please check directly with your local authorities
➡️ Even with improving conditions, wildfire prevention still matters—one spark can quickly become a wildfire

📲 Stay informed:
• Active wildfire information: https://georgiafc.firesponse.com/public/
• Wildfire updates, resources, and safety information: https://gatrees.org/current-wildfire-information-and-resources/

Thank you to the firefighters, pilots, dispatchers, emergency managers, partner agencies, and communities who continue supporting wildfire response efforts across Georgia.

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.

18/05/2026

🔥 What happens when an invasive plant makes wildfires burn hotter and more dangerously?

In the latest episode of The Georgia Forestry Forum, we take a closer look at cogongrass—one of the world’s most invasive plants—and why it’s such a serious threat to Georgia’s forests.

This clip highlights one major concern: fire intensity.

Cogongrass doesn’t just spread aggressively—it can fuel hotter, faster-moving fires that are harder to control.

🎧 Catch the full episode of The Georgia Forestry Forum wherever you get your podcasts, or listen here:
https://gatrees.org/news/digital-media-toolkit/georgia-forestry-forum-podcast/

16/05/2026

🔥 Why Are Firefighters Still Out There? This is why.

What you’re seeing in this photo is a reburn caused by needlecast—a common wildfire challenge in Georgia’s pine forests.

Needlecast happens when dry pine needles fall in thick layers across the forest floor. Those needles create highly flammable fuel that can hold heat, smolder unnoticed, and reignite long after the main fire front has passed.

That’s exactly why mop-up operations are so critical.

Even when containment numbers improve and flames are no longer making headlines, hidden heat can remain. A single hotspot in heavy needlecast can flare back up, cross containment lines, and put firefighters, nearby communities, and property at risk all over again.

This photo was taken a couple of days ago on the Highway 82 Fire—a reminder that these are still active incidents, and the work is not done.

Mop-up may not be the most visible part of wildfire response, but it is some of the most important work our crews do.

Fighting fire. Protecting forests. Serving Georgia.