Over 150 Wildfires Blaze Across South Carolina as State of Emergency Is Declared | US News
A state of emergency has been initiated in South Carolina as wildfires, driven by dry and windy conditions, have necessitated evacuations in several areas.
On Sunday, over 175 fires were reported across 6.6 square miles of the state, with the National Weather Service highlighting an elevated risk of wildfires in the region.
By early Monday, the count of active fires decreased to 163, according to the state’s forestry commission.
Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday to bolster the wildfire response efforts, along with implementing a statewide burning ban.
Residents in eight neighborhoods had to evacuate as multiple fires were reported in Horry County, officials noted.
Members of the South Carolina National Guard employed two Blackhawk helicopters to drop water in 600-gallon increments on the active blazes.
Meanwhile, firefighters reported progress in controlling a fire in Carolina Forest, where evacuations had been ordered, as per Horry County Fire Rescue.
Footage captured individuals fleeing down streets filled with smoke.
However, by late Sunday, Horry County Fire Rescue informed that evacuees from Carolina Forest could return home.
The Red Cross of South Carolina indicated that around 135 residents from Carolina Forest sought refuge in a county recreation center.
Smoke is seen rising from fires in Horry County. Pic: AP/Horry County Fire Rescue
As of Sunday evening, the fire in the area had burned approximately 2.5 square miles, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s estimates.
Thankfully, no structures had been reported as destroyed, and there were no injury reports as of Sunday morning, officials confirmed.
This situation coincided with firefighting efforts to manage several wildfires raging in four forests throughout North Carolina.
The most extensive fire covered around 0.6 square miles in Uwharrie National Forest, located about 50 miles east of Charlotte.
The North Carolina Forest Service announced on Sunday that they had made some headway in controlling the fire, achieving around one-third containment.
People flee an area in Myrtle Beach. Pic: AP
The small town of Tryon in Polk County, North Carolina, urged some residents to evacuate on Saturday as a rapidly spreading fire emerged.
Evacuations remained in place on Sunday.
A determination on whether to revoke the evacuation orders was expected on Monday after planned controlled burns were conducted to inhibit the fire’s spread.
By Sunday evening, this particular fire had burned about 0.8 square miles, with no containment reported as per the Polk County Emergency Management and Fire Marshal’s office.
Read more US news:
Crypto prices rally after Trump announcement
US speaker says Zelenskyy might need to resign
New York Dolls singer dies
A helicopter drops water to help contain a fire in the Carolina Forest area. Pic: AP
Stay updated with the latest news from the UK and across the globe by following Sky News
The North Carolina Forest Service was engaged in water drops and controlled burning operations, with residents advised to anticipate significant smoke during these activities.
Simultaneously, at least six active fires were reported in Georgia on Sunday, resulting in nearly 5.8 miles burned over a week due to windy conditions and low humidity, reported the Georgia Forestry Commission.
The causes of these fires remain unspecified.
As conditions fueling the fires are anticipated to diminish, a cold front is expected to move through the southeastern United States, bringing rain by Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The combination of warmth, dry air, and strong winds correlates with the ongoing La Niña weather phenomenon, which typically results in warmer, drier winters for the Carolinas, as stated by North Carolina State University.
These fires follow the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, which resulted in 29 fatalities and destroyed thousands of acres over 24 days.
In the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that swept through California in January, over 18,000 structures were either damaged or destroyed.
