Last updated: April 29, 2026
Veterinary teams across Georgia are doing what they always do in a crisis: showing up for animals, clients, and communities that need them.
This page is intended to serve as a central resource for our veterinarian members as South Georgia wildfire conditions continue to evolve.
It includes current situation updates, practical response resources, animal care guidance, evacuation and boarding information, and recovery support options we believe are most relevant to veterinary professionals.
Georgia Forestry Commission
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
Overall Situation Updates
As of April 29, 2026, the Georgia Forestry Commission reports two major South Georgia fires: the Pineland Road Fire at 32,569 acres with 23% containment and the Highway 82 Fire at 22,600 acres with 32% containment. A state of emergency remains in effect for 91 Georgia counties, and a mandatory outdoor burn ban is in place across 91 counties in the lower half of the state.
For members monitoring local conditions, official incident and evacuation contacts listed by the Georgia Forestry Commission include Clinch County EMA: 912-487-3700, Echols County EMA: 229-559-6538, and the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office: 912-674-5878 or 912-674-0195.
Official links to monitor
- Georgia Forestry Commission wildfire updates
- Georgia Forestry Commission live fire map
- Georgia Emergency Management wildfire page
- AirNow air quality index
- AirNow fire and smoke map
Call for Veterinary Care
Veterinary practices in or near affected regions may be in a position to help with triage, urgent outpatient care, smoke-related illness evaluations, medication refills, minor wound care, and continuity of care for displaced animals.
Can your practice help provide veterinary care?
We are encouraging veterinary members with available capacity to consider helping animals affected by the South Georgia wildfires. Support may include urgent exams, treatment for smoke exposure, medication refills, minor injury care, boarding-related intake exams, and temporary continuity of care for displaced clients.
What We’re Looking For
- Veterinarians in neighboring counties willing to accept cases from the fires
- Veterinarians able to serve as on-call phone teletriage support
What To Expect for Teletriage
- On-call veterinarians will be available during certain times
- Two daily shifts: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM and 8:00 PM – 8:00 AM
- A secure, shared spreadsheet listing who is on call for each shift, along with a cell phone number for direct contact
- The list will be shared internally only — with responders on the ground who can call the on-call vet as needed for advice and triage
How We’ll Use Your Information
The list will be shared internally only — with responders on the ground who can call the on-call vet as needed for advice and triage. This will NOT be a public-facing hotline.
What You Can Do
- Extend urgent care availability if feasible
- Refill essential medications for displaced patients when clinically appropriate
- Coordinate transfer of records when another practice is affected
- Share modified hours or emergency availability with local partners
- Monitor patients with respiratory or cardiovascular disease closely during smoke events
The American Veterinary Medical Association notes that smoke can significantly affect pets, horses, and livestock, especially animals with underlying respiratory or cardiovascular disease. Warning signs include coughing, gagging, difficulty breathing, eye irritation, nasal discharge, fatigue, weakness, disorientation, and reduced appetite or thirst.
Call for Boarding
Displacement creates immediate need for short-term animal housing, especially for pets, horses, and livestock whose owners are evacuating or losing access to normal care arrangements.
Can your practice help with boarding or temporary animal housing?
We are asking veterinary members, boarding providers, and animal care partners with available capacity to consider supporting animals displaced by wildfire evacuations. If your team can assist with boarding, foster coordination, intake support, or referral placement, your help may fill a critical need for affected families
The Georgia Department of Agriculture emphasizes that animal owners should plan ahead for feed, water, transportation, destination, and housing for both pets and livestock. The department’s Emergency Response Hotline is 1-855-491-1432.
Animal evacuation shelter contacts reported publicly
- South Central Livestock, Fitzgerald: 229-424-2550
- Thomasville Stockyard, Thomasville: 229-228-6960
- Flatwoods Kennels and Training, Valdosta: 229-460-2184
- Sunbelt Expo, Moultrie: 229-873-2029
- UGA Extension Tift, Tifton: 229-388-5414
- Seminole Livestock, Donalsonville: 229-724-3214
Guidance for Veterinary Teams Treating Smoke-Exposed Animals
The AVMA recommends keeping pets indoors as much as possible, limiting outdoor time to brief bathroom breaks during poor air quality, avoiding strenuous exercise, and watching for clinical signs of smoke irritation. For livestock, the AVMA recommends limiting exertion, reducing dust exposure, ensuring access to fresh water, and planning for recovery time after prolonged smoke exposure.
The CDC advises people to monitor air quality through AirNow, stay indoors when directed, create a cleaner indoor air space when smoke is present, and use a well-fitting respirator such as an N95 if outdoor exposure cannot be avoided. The CDC also notes that evacuation shelters may not accept animals, which reinforces the need for early animal evacuation planning. CDC
Clinical Reminders and Notes for Pet Owners
- Smoke affects animals too, not just people
- Brachycephalic pets, seniors, neonates, and animals with heart or lung disease may be at higher risk
- Outdoor working, performance, and livestock animals may need restricted activity
- Medication continuity matters for chronic respiratory patients
- Owners should move animals early when evacuation is voluntary, not after access becomes limited
Member Resources
Georgia Forestry Commission
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
Georgia Department of Agriculture
- Emergency Response Center
- Emergency hotline: 1-855-491-1432
American Veterinary Medical Association
- Disaster preparedness
- Wildfire smoke and animals
- Pets and disasters
- Large animals and livestock in disasters
CDC
For Veterinary Practitioners: Grants and Recovery Support to Cover Cost of Care
The American Veterinary Medical Foundation offers Disaster Relief and Reimbursement Grants that help animals and those who care for them following devastating events.
According to AVMF, these grants can help cover the cost of veterinary charitable medical care and boarding for animals during disasters, making this especially relevant for veterinary teams and clinics responding to wildfire-related displacement and care needs. AVMF reports awarding more than $100,000 in disaster relief grants in 2025.
The Georgia Forestry Foundation has established a wildfire recovery fund that it says will be restricted to this relief effort and distributed through a documented review process based on need, impact, and eligibility, with support from local community leaders. While this appears geared more broadly toward affected communities and recovery, it is worth including for our members looking to support or monitor recovery efforts.
Cash grants are available from PetSmart Charities to help organizations address the needs of pets affected by major natural disasters. Grant funds may be used to offset costs for immediate needs, including shelter supplies, veterinary care for impacted pets, minor urgent facility or grounds repairs, as well as supplemental staff and volunteer expenses.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency also lists recovery-related giving options, including Georgia VOAD and the Georgia Chamber Foundation wildfire recovery effort, for those looking to support community recovery.
Support and recovery links
- AVMF disaster support
- Georgia Forestry Foundation wildfire recovery fund
- Georgia VOAD
- Georgia Chamber Foundation wildfire recovery effort
Wildlife and Public Safety
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has warned that wildlife may move into new areas as animals flee fire conditions. Residents are encouraged to drive carefully, give wildlife space, avoid feeding wildlife, keep pets leashed, and contact Georgia DNR if they encounter an injured wild animal.
