More than 100 wildfires ignited in South Carolina on Saturday, with several more starting on Sunday morning.
Fire crews in both South and North Carolina are battling multiple major wildfires that erupted over the weekend and have prompted mandatory evacuations.
More than 100 wildfires ignited in South Carolina on Saturday, with several more starting on Sunday morning,
according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC).
The Carolina Forest Fire in Horry County, one of the biggest fires burning in the state, doubled in size overnight. The fire is burning about five miles north of Myrtle Beach and is 0 percent contained, scorching more than 1,200 acres as of the latest update Sunday morning.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Sunday issued a state of emergency as fire crews battle dry and windy conditions.
“I have declared a State of Emergency to further support wildfire response efforts across the state and ensure our first responders continue to have the resources they need,” McMaster said in a
statement on social media platform X. “A statewide outdoor burning ban remains in effect—violators will be prosecuted.”
Another wildfire broke out south of Myrtle Beach Saturday and threatened homes in Georgetown County, prompting brief evacuations in the town of Prince George.
The fire scorched more than 800 acres by Sunday morning, according to the Prince George Fire Department. Evacuations were lifted after crews gained the upper hand battling the blaze. Officials in the area previously warned residents about the gusty winds and low humidity and on Saturday upgraded the threat to a Fire Weather
warning.
SCFC fire chief Darryl Jones warned about the dangerous fire conditions after a red flag fire alert was issued last week.
“The dangerous conditions we’re going to see over the next few days make a good portion of the state vulnerable to fires that can spread rapidly and be difficult to control,” Jones said in a
statement. “These kinds of spring weather patterns are what make this time of year the traditional peak of our wildfire season.”
Typically, wildfire occurrence in South Carolina is greater in March than in any other month. SCFC crews responded to 183 wildfires in January alone, nearly double its five-year average for the first month of the year. The agency recorded more than 300 wildfires in February.
Meanwhile in North Carolina, the Melrose Fire has grown between 400 to 500 acres. Officials determined that the brush fire in Polk County was caused by a downed power line along Highway 176 Saturday afternoon.
“The fire rapidly spread up the mountain, threatening multiple structures,” according to a statement by Saluda Fire and Rescue.
The fire remains zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon.
Some residents near
Tryon and Saluda were forced to evacuate due to the blaze. The towns are situated just north of the North Carolina-South Carolina border. There are no additional evacuation orders for Sunday, Polk County Emergency Management said, but officials warned residents that there will be a lot of fire activity throughout the day.
