BREAKING: Georgia Southern professor issues strong warning as wildfire spreads towards Statesboro

Although the immediate threat from dangerous fire weather has subsided, officials are cautioning that strong winds could return, potentially worsening conditions.

Chief Meteorologist Dave Turley spoke with James Reichard, a Professor of Geology at Georgia Southern University, about the rapid spread of the Palisades Fire. Reichard identified three key factors: California’s lack of rainfall during its “rainy season,” the Santa Ana winds, and the challenging geography of the affected areas.

When asked about the role of wind in hampering firefighting efforts, Reichard explained, “The winds prevented helicopters from engaging in aerial firefighting, keeping them grounded. This took away a critical tool for controlling the fires. It’s what we would call a ‘perfect storm’ of Santa Ana winds, delayed wet season rains, and extremely dry ground conditions.”

While fire growth has slowed in recent days, crews in California are still working to fully contain the deadly blazes.

Closer to home, a wildfire sparked in Long County on Thursday. Although the cause is unknown, similar conditions, such as low rainfall, dry air, and strong winds, contributed to the blaze—factors that California has experienced on a much larger scale.

“Wildfires happen when you have a combination of drought, low humidity, and winds,” Reichard noted. “California has faced all of these to an extreme degree.”

Meanwhile, California faces a new risk: landslides. Officials warn that the water used to fight the fires could contribute to unstable ground in the affected regions.