FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
When Hurricane Helene tore through Georgia last year, the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) leaped into action. For their thousands of hours of clean-up work and service to landowners, the GFC’s local Telfair/Wheeler Unit has earned a state award. Staff members have been recognized with the agency’s “2025 Unit of the Year – Service” honor.
“Going above and beyond is truly the norm at this unit,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Director Johnny Sabo. “They consistently produce superior results for landowners, which has never been more evident than in the wake of this destructive hurricane. Telfair/Wheeler is especially deserving of this award.”
When visiting the unit, Governor Brian Kemp and Lt. Governor Burt Jones commended staff for the time and perseverance they devoted to Hurricane Helene cleanup efforts. During the year, the group kept wildfire response time to under four minutes, with an average fire size of 2.6 acres. Nearly 300 hours were invested in plowing/burning, and more than 5,200 acres were prescribe burned over the year. At the same time, the unit’s average equipment inspection score was over 97-percent.
Though Telfair/Wheeler Chief Ranger Tim Hartley lost some five-thousand acres of his own land to the storm, he and his team have a clear calling to serve. “It’s our job,” he said, “and we’ve got a great bunch to work with. We take it day by day and just keep going.”
To learn more about services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.
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