See maps of where wildfires are burning in Georgia and Florida
Julia GomezEditor's note: See the latest maps as wildfires continue to burn in Georgia and Florida on Friday, April 24.
Wildfires in Georgia and Florida continue to spread, causing evacuations and destroying homes.
On April 22, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 91 counties in the state due to the wildfires, according to a news release published by Georgia's Office of the Governor.
"With much of Georgia remaining in extreme drought conditions, wildfires have already surpassed the state's 5-year average and continue to spread," Kemp said in a statement.
North and central Georgia are also expected to see hazy skies as smoke from fires in northern Florida and southern Georgia is carried northward, according to the National Weather Service in Atlanta.
Fires have also destroyed over 50 homes in southeast Georgia, the Guardian reported. People in the area of the fires have also been forced to evacuate, and some schools have been closed.
Multiple counties across Florida and Georgia have enacted burn bans, according to the Florida Forest Service and the Georgia Forestry Commission.
It is the first burn ban issued in Georgia's history, USA TODAY previously reported.
Map shows wildfires burning in Georgia
Map shows wildfires burning in Florida
What is causing the fires?
The weather service has reported "extreme" drought across most of Florida and Georgia, and "exceptional" drought, which is more severe than "extreme," in northern Florida and southern Georgia.
The droughts have contributed to the spread of fires, according to Kemp.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, space phenomena, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected].