Created: 4/29/2007 5:27:24 PM 
Georgia Weather Forecasts and Conditions: Brantley | Camden | Charlton | Glynn | Pierce | Ware
By Kristin Smith First Coast News WARE COUNTY, GA -- A lot of progress has been made in Ware County in the last 24 hours. By Sunday night, firefighters had the fire 70 percent contained. It has grown to 68,000 acres. Firefighters say they have spent most of the day Sunday setting backfires and widening clear zones. They're doing this to make sure the ground that has already burned does not rekindle.
On Sunday, winds were pushing that massive fire south. That's bringing relief to people in Waycross who've spent nearly two weeks now fleeing their homes, and returning sometimes even hours later. People in Brantley County and Charlton County are on edge as the fire pushes their direction.
Many people in Waycross are now putting their energy into praying for a little help from above.
That's what one group of people drove 3 hours to pray for the people in Waycross.
"We're asking God to please bring down rain. People are losing houses, they're being pushed out," said Pastor Debra Snuggs, with the Greater Faith Temple Prayer Group.
The fire that spread over tens of thousands of acres over the past two weeks has most people in Waycross praying for the same thing.
"That's what we need is some rain," said Fred Harry, who lives in Waycross.
"We need rain. We need rain," said Kay Guy, who lives near Waycross.
Guy's son was evacuated for four days last week. His home is okay, for now.
"You just never know from one day to the next with the wind shifting and all, we thought it was all under control, then the wind shifted and started coming back towards us. You're on alert at all times," said Guy.
Marie Lee is getting used to seeing ash fall from the sky to her home in Fernandina Beach. But on the drive north to meet her husband, she saw for herself where it was coming from.
"As I was coming down 82 I could see the billows of smoke, and I just raised my hand, and said, 'God, be with them,'" said Lee.
The Red Cross shelter is still set up at the Waycross Middle School. But they say no evacuees have gone there since Wednesday, because many have family and friends in the area to help them out.
Ware County schools will be open an hour later than usual Monday. Charlton County schools will be closed for the day.
All road closures have been lifted except us highway 1 between mile marker 1 and 16 and state route 177. More than 800 firefighters are working to contain the wildfire.
Related article:
Firefighters Have Contained 70 Percent of Georgia Wildfire ©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.
