BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp traveled to Brantley County to survey wildfire damage Friday afternoon.

At 1:30 p.m., Gov. Kemp, Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo and Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency Director Josh Lamb addressed the public in a news conference.

Governor Kemp said officials believe one fire started due to welding sparks and another was created when a balloon hit a power line.

SEE: Georgia dealing with 2 largest, most problematic wildfires in the country

“We believe that one of the fires started when someone was welding their gate. Spark fell on the ground, it started a fire and they couldn’t get it put out, and it just spread from there,” said Gov. Kemp. “We believe the other fire was a balloon that landed on a power line and created an arc, which then caught the ground on fire.”

Sabo confirmed and specified it was a kids party balloon that hit the line and caused the wildfire in Brantley County.

“So the Brantley fire was absolutely a, it’s like a kids party balloon that has the aluminum-look to it, landed on a power line, caused a spark and that’s what caused this wildfire, so that has been determined,” confirmed Sabo.

Watch full press conference below:

‘The two most dangerous fires in the nation are in south Georgia’

South Georgia is in a dire emergency.

“The two most dangerous fires in the nation are in South Georgia,” said Gov. Kemp on Friday.

“It could jump another road while we’re standing here,” said Joey Cason, Brantley County Manager.

“We knew the wind was going to switch. In a firefighting world, you’ve got to fight fire where it’s going in the moment,” said Blair Joiner, Georgia Forestry Commission Region 5 Manager.

The community in Brantley County is feeling the struggle.

“Two firefighters I know have lost their homes,” said Dawn Dean, Brantley County Family Connection Executive Director.

Dawn Dean is one of many members of the community helping those who have lost everything.

“The love for this community is what’s keeping me going right now,” said Dean.

Officials Friday said that this could go on for weeks, and so they’ll need all the help they can get.

Highway 82 fire prompts additional evacuations, curfew in Brantley County

Additional evacuations were ordered Thursday for areas impacted by the Highway 82 fire as extreme fire behavior continued into early Friday morning.

Evacuations include areas of Highway 110 from Highway 32 to Lanes Cemetery Road, from Lisa Lane to the Satilla River, and Highway 110 to the Satilla River between Coffee County Club Road and Drury Lane.

The Brantley County Sheriff’s Office said fire activity increased throughout Thursday afternoon and into the night along the north end of the fire with extreme fire behavior continuing into the early morning hours despite 50% to 60% relative humidity. Law enforcement said fire was spotted north across Highway 110 West into Coffee County across Stewart Road.

Fire management

The Southern Area Team One Incident Management Team assumed command of the fire Friday and is working alongside the Georgia Forestry Commission and state and local partners. Additional dozers and equipment continue to arrive to support firefighting efforts in mop up operations and in the most active fire areas.

Safety measures

Brantley County has issued a mandatory curfew for the affected area from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. The sheriff’s office said multiple mandatory evacuations are in place for public and firefighter safety.

A temporary flight restriction over the fire area is in effect. This includes all drone use.

Law enforcement said smoke conditions continue to be a concern on Highway 82 and trigger closures periodically.

A reentry plan is being developed but has not been implemented, and the sheriff’s office said there is no reentry into affected areas at this time.

Shelters and donations

The American Red Cross established a shelter located at 100 Genoa Martin Drive, Selden Park Complex in Brunswick. Shelter opens at 12:00 p.m. and is not accepting pets.

A local day shelter is established at Nahunta Methodist Church. A local day and night shelter is Southside Baptist Church.