Seeing smoke in the air today? Here’s why

FORT STEWART, Ga. (WTOC) - Residents of Savannah and Chatham County, and in some of the surrounding areas, may be seeing more of a haze than usual today, January 2, 2026.

From the Oglethorpe Mall to Chatham Parkway, WTOC has heard from viewers who are curious as to why there is so much smoke in the air this afternoon.

According to the Fort Stewart Forestry Branch, this smoke in the air is due to a scheduled controlled burn. Locals and residents should not be alarmed. Below are the specific details for today’s burn.

• What: A controlled fire covering 1,228 acres, set and managed by helicopter crews
• Where: About 6 miles north of Building 1 and 2 miles north of the Lawson fire tower
• What you’ll see: Nothing from Highways 144 or 119 - the flames and smoke won’t be visible from those roads.
• Weather conditions: Light southwest winds at 3-5 miles per hour, which are good conditions for a controlled burn.

The US Army says “the Forestry Branch uses tools such as prescribed burning and timber thinning to achieve a superior training environment for our Soldiers.”

“Controlled (prescribed) burning is a managed burn that uses low intensity fire to improve and enhance our Soldiers’ training lands, clear underbrush to reduce wildfire hazards, and improve wildlife habitat.”