Firefighters are battling more than 175 wildfires in North and South Carolina that erupted over the weekend due to gusty winds and dry conditions.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday, ordering some residents to evacuate.
Governor McMaster emphasized the importance of declaring a state of emergency to support the first responders who are dedicated to safeguarding communities from the ongoing wildfires. He highlighted the significance of providing these brave individuals with the necessary resources to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
On Saturday, the largest wildfire sparked in Carolina Forest, west of Myrtle Beach, sending locals running for their lives.
According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s latest assessment on Sunday, the wildfire has already consumed 2.5 square miles of land, with only 30 percent of it currently under control. Fortunately, some residents have been given permission to go back to their homes following the containment efforts.
North Carolina is experiencing at least five active fires as of Sunday, with the largest burning about 50 miles east of Charlotte.
The small southwestern town of Tryon in Polk County urged some residents to evacuate Saturday as a fire spread rapidly through
Authorities have pointed out that the heightened danger of fires is primarily due to the unusual warmth and low humidity levels in the region. They have also emphasized that the primary cause of these wildfires is careless burning of debris, urging the public to exercise caution to prevent further incidents.
Weather Channel meteorologist Robb Ellis said: ‘Wildfires are not only common in parts of the Carolinas, but are part of the natural ecosystem of the area, especially in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain.
‘Pine forests regularly rely on wildfire for the release of seeds from pine cones and to clear vegetation for new growth.’
Officials said there were more than 175 fires that broke out on Saturday, but firefighters were able to cut the number down to 163 as of Monday morning.
Russell Hubright, the South Carolina Forestry Commission Chief, described the flames as ‘very erratic.’
‘You saw that the flames are low and all of a sudden they jumped up right? So wind changes can do that in this kind of a fuel type as we call it, so it can be a little scary,’ he told NBC’s ‘TODAY’ Monday morning.
Blackhawk helicopters were flown in over South Carolina, dumping 600 gallons of water at a town over the fires.
‘The top of the trees really lit up with the big fire and black smoke was just pouring right on top of everything,’ Dennis Sprecher, who lives in the Walkers Woods community, near the Carolina Forest, told NBC affiliate WMBF of Myrtle Beach on Sunday.
‘You just see the raging fire heading towards the houses and everything. I didn’t realize how bad the fire was. You just hear like a tornado going out in the middle of the trees,’ he added.
Myrtle beach, which is home to nearly 40,000 people, has not experienced any damages from the largest fire, but the blaze has burned more than 1,600 acres of land.
McMaster’s office said in a statement Sunday that it expects a loss of 4,200 acres across the state due to the other fires ripping through Spartanburg, Union, Oconee and Pickens counties.
Another fire broke out near Six Mile, located about 30 miles west of Greenville, where residents have been urged to evacuate. An official order has not yet been issued.
While North Carolina only has a handful of fires, officials said the largest is at Uwharrie National Forest that has been plagued by dry conditions in recent months.
This ‘Melrose Fire’ has burned more than 480 acres so far.
Polk County Emergency Management said: ‘As of right now, evacuations are still voluntary for those in the affected areas of this fire.’
Saluda Fire & Rescue posted on Facebook that it believes a downed powerline sparked the blaze.
The Forest Service said Sunday afternoon that it had made progress on the fire, reaching about one-third containment.
Another fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains has burned more than 400 acres. Residents in Tryon and Saluda, home to more than 2,000 total, were told to evacuate Sunday and are set to here if order will be lifted today.
The US Forest Service said it was responding to wildfires in all in North Carolina.
