The smoke drifting in and out of Hinesville today is from fires that broke out last week in Long County. Officials say they are under control, but still burning, especially in some peat bogs.
Officials from the Georgia Forestry Commission's Long County division expect the remnants will smolder for weeks or even months to come.
On Pearl Davis Road, a blaze that firefighters managed to tame into a controlled burn has hit a peat moss bog and is producing billows of heavy smoke that are drifting over Long County and into Liberty.
Shirley Williamson, a Long County fire tower operator with Georgia Forestry, said because peat moss is heavily laden with natural fuels, it burns hot, fast and continuously. She stressed the fire is contained and firefighters are monitoring.
"There will be a lot of ‘mopping up' with this fire where firefighters go around the perimeter of the fire to make sure it stays contained," Williamson said.
She expects the fire to smolder for months in the peat moss bog and said firefighters likely will have to monitor it on-site for weeks.
"It's one of those we'll have to babysit because it's going to be there awhile," the tower operator said.
So far, she estimates the controlled burn has consumed about 350 acres. Officials do not expect to call for evacuations. Williamson said units from Georgia Forestry, Long County and other surrounding communities have sent responders and equipments to help with the burn.