Smoke from monthlong Wassaw Island wildfire drifting into Tybee, Hilton Head

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — A wildfire that has been burning on Wassaw Island since the Fourth of July is generating heavy smoke and catching the attention of residents miles away.

The lightning-caused wildfire has grown to approximately 100 acres as of Sunday evening. While the fire is contained to the island and does not pose a threat to nearby communities, changing winds have pushed smoke and haze into Tybee Island and as far north as Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

The sudden uptick in smoke has prompted local emergency services to issue public service announcements to reassure residents.

“Once we started to see an uptick in calls and we received a few messages on our social media accounts... we realized very quickly that it was important to get the message out,” said public information officer Kenzie Hrobar. “Once we were able to confirm that it was coming near Tybee, we were able to share that as a PSA to our community to let them know that they were safe and that they were not in any danger.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is actively monitoring the fire and will continue to provide updates. Officials remind the public that the fire remains confined to the uninhabited barrier island.