Grice Connect has been receiving messages and pictures from followers who are reporting heavy black smoke on the westside of Statesboro. The messages began around 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 22.
We received pictures from the mall area and downtown. Both you can see heavy black smoke.
We reached out to the Statesboro Fire Department and they confirmed this was a controlled debris burn on the westside of the city.
Crews have cut timber and are clearing land off of West Main Street between the Bulloch County Health department and Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The fire is controlled and there is no danger to structures.
University Villas on GS Campus
Bulloch County 911 also received calls this morning reporting smoke in the area of University Villas on Chandler Road on the Georgia Southern Campus.
Statesboro Fire Department is performing training exercises at University Villas. During these trainings, firefighters are practicing hose advancement, search and rescue, and interior forcible entry. At the time of the exercises, fire apparatus, firefighters and smoke around University Villas may be visible from Chandler Road.
The partnership between Georgia Southern and Statesboro Fire Department provides firefighters with access to a multi-level, multi-unit structure for training opportunities before University Villas is demolished.
They will be conducting these exercises for the remainder of the month of June - every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. ending by noon or earlier if it outside temperature rises above 90.1℉ or above.
