Wildfires burning across the Southern United States have forced hundreds of residents in Georgia to evacuate their homes, with many leaving within minutes as fires rapidly spread through drought-stricken areas.

The blazes, which have affected both Georgia and Florida this week, are occurring during extreme drought conditions that have created favorable conditions for fire spread. Strong winds, dry air, and elevated temperatures have contributed to what meteorologists are describing as extreme wildfire risk across the central United States.

Evacuated residents have expressed uncertainty about whether their homes and property will survive the fires. Many were forced to leave quickly, abandoning pets and possessions as the flames advanced.

The fires have generated significant smoke that has traveled hundreds of miles from the fire zones, prompting air quality warnings across the Southeast on Thursday. Cities far from the actual fire locations are experiencing reduced air quality due to the smoke plumes.

Weather conditions across the middle of the country continue to fuel elevated fire risks, with millions of Americans under wildfire alerts as the combination of heat, dry conditions, and strong winds persist.