Lighter winds on Monday provided a much-needed respite for crews battling wildfires in both South Carolina and North Carolina, which prompted evacuations and posed risks to hundreds of homes over the weekend.
A large contingent of firefighters from across South Carolina successfully prevented the massive wildfire in Horry County, near Myrtle Beach, from destroying any homes. Even as social media was awash with imagery of orange-tinged skies and flames licking close to pine trees, the efforts proved effective. The flames have consumed an area spanning approximately 2.5 square miles (about 6.5 square kilometers), marking the most significant fire the region has faced since a 2009 blaze that inflicted $42 million in damages and razed around 75 homes.
Though the situation showed signs of improvement on Monday, the threat remained. A statewide ban on almost all outdoor fires, encompassing both yard debris burns and campfires, was implemented by South Carolina officials. Residents were cautioned to alert authorities should they witness any individuals setting fires. Governor Henry McMaster emphasized the seriousness, stating on social media that individuals caught starting fires outdoors in South Carolina face jail time.
Meanwhile, burn bans were also implemented in western North Carolina. Continued evacuations were observed in Polk County, where fire teams engaged in strategic controlled burns to manage a 480-acre (around 190 hectares) wildfire, which was roughly 30% contained as of Monday morning.
Polk County is located near areas severely affected by Hurricane Helene the previous year. The prevalence of fallen trees and residual debris from the hurricane has heightened the area’s susceptibility to fires.
In eastern North Carolina, Robeson County reported close to 80 wildfires, most of which were small and on the controllable side. However, damage extended to 15 structures, though details on the types of structures were not disclosed. Across the state, more than 200 wildfires were observed, but these were mostly minor and did not threaten buildings, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
Concerns over air quality arose due to the prevalent smoke across the Carolinas. An unusually dry winter exacerbated the fire risk, further fueled by a weekend of high winds accompanying a cold front that lacked the expected rainfall typically ushered in with such weather changes in the South. The vicinity surrounding Myrtle Beach is considered particularly susceptible to wildfires because of centuries-worth of decomposing vegetation creating peat, which readily burns when dried. Additionally, flammable waxy vegetation like pine trees enables rapid fire spread under dry, windy conditions.
Over the past 25 years, Horry County’s population has surged to 400,000, with many new residents settling in rapidly developed neighborhoods adjacent to the Carolina Bays—a place where the peat and flammable vegetation naturally grow. These bay areas have historically experienced fires as part of their natural ecosystem processes. As of now, authorities have not disclosed the causes of the fires that are affecting the regions.
