WAYNESVILLE, Ga. — A fast-moving wildfire has left behind widespread destruction in the town of Waynesville, destroying homes and a wedding chapel as crews continue working to contain the fire.
Devastation is visible across the area, with burned structures, collapsed roofs, and charred remains scattered throughout affected neighborhoods.
People who live near the impacted area say they watched flames rapidly spread through neighborhoods.
One woman, Chelsea Howell, said her home remains standing, but access to nearby properties has been blocked due to road closures, leaving uncertainty for families unable to return.
She described the fire jumping from house to house as conditions rapidly worsened.
“It’s horrible — it’s just like something you would see out of a movie or something,” one resident said. “You just want to break down and cry. It’s life-changing. I have a buddy who lost everything.”
Officials said the wildfire breached containment lines and grew rapidly, expanding from roughly 700 acres to more than 4,000 acres in about eight hours. On Wednesday, it expanded to more than 5,000 acres.
Isaac Wilcox said he attempted to slow the fire’s spread using a garden hose as flames approached a relative’s home.
“I sprayed her house with a water hose, and by the time the water was hitting it, it was evaporating. And then I went back there today, the road was blocked off, but we went through the subdivision through the trails, and whenever we went, her house was the only one standing. The black smoke was burning the house next to us. And so I was fighting it as much as I could, and then I just threw the water hose on top of it and ran because it was bad," Wilcox said.
Officials said one firefighter was injured Tuesday, but clarified the injuries were minor.
If you want to learn about your home's condition, contact 912-462-2480.