FRUITLAND, Ga. – U.S. Army Soldiers with the Augusta-based 877th Engineer Company, 878th Engineer Battalion, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, have joined the multiagency wildfire response in South Georgia.
The team arrived April 28 in Echols County, Georgia, with two D6 dozers to stop the fire spread by clearing fire breaks.
“What they’re currently doing is widening the fire breaks out so that the fire tankers and the water engines can get back there [in the woods],” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Williams, a platoon sergeant with the 877th Engineer Company.
Williams said this allows partner agencies greater access to areas in the woods to prevent further flare-ups.
The Georgia National Guard was initially called to provide aerial support April 22, after Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and authorized up to 150 Georgia National Guardsmen to state active duty. This additional ground support continues the Georgia Department of Defense’s support for Georgians as part of a whole-government response, with Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, or GEMA/HS, serving as the lead agency.
U.S. Army Capt. Bryton Wenzel, commander of the 877th Engineer Company, said local agencies and partners have been instrumental in providing logistical and operational support for the unit.
After returning from a one-year deployment as part of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in December 2025, 877th Engineer Company Soldiers were excited for the opportunity to conduct a mission closer to home.
“It feels amazing … it feels great to do something to serve the community and your country,” said U.S. Army Spc. LaQuinten Brown, a horizontal construction engineer with the 877th Engineer Company.
“The Soldiers are stoked to get the experience on the equipment,” Wenzel said. “Soldiers are really motivated to get behind the wheel to make a difference.”
The 877th Engineer Company has supported Defense Support of Civil Authorities, or DSCA, operations in the past, most recently providing route clearance during the Hurricane Helene response in 2024. Williams said this mission continues the unit’s historical support for Georgia.
“This mission is another operation that we normally get called up for and provide heavy engineer equipment support,” Williams said.
The Georgia Department of Defense plays an integral role in declared emergencies by providing a versatile, ready force capable of responding to natural and artificial disasters across the United States.