Fire crews in both North and South Carolina continued their efforts on Sunday to combat wildfires exacerbated by dry weather and strong winds, prompting evacuations in various areas.
The National Weather Service highlighted an elevated threat of wildfires across the region, attributing this danger to critically dry conditions and very low relative humidity.
In South Carolina, authorities were dealing with over 175 fires that had scorched 6.6 square miles (17 square kilometers). In response, Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency to bolster firefighting activities, maintaining a statewide burning ban.
Firefighters made headway against a significant blaze in the Carolina Forest area, located to the west of Myrtle Beach, a popular coastal destination. Evacuations had been ordered for several neighborhoods, and video footage captured residents rushing through smoke-filled streets. Fortunately, by late Sunday, Horry County Fire Rescue announced that evacuees from Carolina Forest could safely return to their homes.
According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the Carolina Forest fire had impacted roughly 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers), with 30% containment by Sunday evening. Importantly, no buildings had been destroyed, and there were no reported injuries.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, the U.S. Forest Service reported that crews were actively working to manage multiple wildfires across four national forests. The largest of these blazes measured approximately 400 acres (162 hectares) and was burning within Uwharrie National Forest, located about 50 miles (80.47 kilometers) east of Charlotte. By Sunday afternoon, roughly one-third of this fire had been contained.
In Tryon, a small southwestern town in Polk County, North Carolina, authorities urged certain residents to evacuate on Saturday as flames spread swiftly. These evacuations remained in force on Sunday, with a decision on their status anticipated on Monday, following strategic burning operations aimed at curbing the fire’s expansion.
As of late Sunday, the Tryon fire had consumed about 500 acres (202 hectares) and was not yet contained, according to local emergency management and fire officials. The North Carolina Forest Service was actively engaged in water drops and back-burning efforts to control the situation, and officials warned residents to expect significant smoke during these operations.
The causes of the fires across both states remain undetermined.
