Wildfires blaze in the Carolinas: crews respond

On Sunday, firefighting teams were actively engaged in combating wildfires raging across North and South Carolina amid dry weather conditions and strong winds, which led to mandatory evacuations in certain regions. The National Weather Service issued warnings for heightened fire danger due to an alarming combination of extremely dry fuels and very low relative humidity.

In response to the wildfires in South Carolina, where over 175 fires have scorched approximately 6.6 square miles (17 square kilometers), Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency to bolster efforts in managing the wildfire crisis. A statewide ban on burning activities remains enforced.

Progress was made by crews in the Carolina Forest area near Myrtle Beach, a coastal resort city, where residents in several neighborhoods had been evacuated. Dramatic video footage captured individuals fleeing as thick smoke enveloped the sky. However, by late Sunday afternoon, Horry County Fire Rescue reported that residents evacuated from Carolina Forest could safely return to their homes. The South Carolina Forestry Commission, on Sunday evening, estimated that about 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) had been engulfed by the fire, with containment efforts reaching around 30%. Fortunately, no structures were lost, nor injuries reported by Sunday morning.

Firefighters in North Carolina faced the challenge of containing multiple wildfires across four forests. The largest blaze, encompassing approximately 400 acres (162 hectares), was located at Uwharrie National Forest, roughly 50 miles (80.47 kilometers) east of Charlotte. By Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Forest Service had achieved about one-third containment of this fire.

In the small town of Tryon in Polk County, North Carolina, officials urged some residents to evacuate on Saturday as a wildfire rapidly expanded in the area. These evacuation orders remained in place on Sunday, with decisions about lifting them expected on Monday. Authorities planned intentional burns to curb the fire’s spread. As of late Sunday, this fire had consumed around 500 acres (202 hectares), with containment efforts yet to gain significant ground. The Polk County Emergency Management/Fire Marshal’s office coordinated water drops and back-burning operations amid expectations of heavy smoke in affected areas.

The origins of the fires have not been disclosed by officials at this time.