ALBANY, Ga. (WALB/Atlanta Journal-Constitution) - A Talbot County man, William Shane Harvey, 52, of Box Springs, has been arrested after allegedly setting a wildfire that burned 108 acres and damaged at least two homes.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), the fire occurred on Saturday, is part of a series of wildfires sparked across Georgia amid unusually dry conditions in the Southeast.

Harvey was arrested on Sunday and charged with arson of lands. He was taken into custody near the fire’s origin, northeast of Columbus, close to Box Springs. Although no injuries were reported, the fire caused significant damage, destroying two homes and two outbuildings. Eleven other properties also suffered damage.

AJC said the wildfire prompted a massive response from several agencies, including the Georgia Forestry Commission’s wildland firefighters, and teams from Harris, Talbot, Muscogee, Marion, and Crawford counties. Local fire departments, along with volunteers, also assisted in extinguishing the blaze.

Harvey faces severe penalties if convicted, including a fine of up to $50,000 or a prison sentence ranging from one to 20 years.

This fire is one of hundreds that have occurred in Georgia over the past week. Since February 24, nearly 6,200 acres have been burned across 490 fires, with 57 fires igniting on a single day, burning 130 acres.

For comparison, Georgia saw 280 fires in January, nearly double the average of 173 over the past five years.

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