Evacuations ordered as wildfires threaten the Carolinas, fueled by strong winds and dry air
Fires were reported in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, prompting a widespread response.
Multiple wildfires forced the evacuation of numerous neighborhoods in both North and South Carolina over the weekend as dry conditions and gusty winds fueled the flames. Fires were burning in areas such as the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina.
In North Carolina, wildfires in the Blue Ridge Mountains prompted evacuations in the towns of Tryon and Saluda on Saturday. By that evening, 400 to 500 acres had burned, with no containment reported, according to Polk County Emergency Management. Both towns, located about 40 miles south of Asheville, have populations of around 1,600 and 1,000, respectively. Some residents not evacuated spent a restless night, checking social media to monitor potential threats to their neighborhoods.
Thousands evacuated during wildfires in the Carolinas
The U.S. Forest Service responded to fires across all four national forests in North Carolina. The largest fire on Sunday was in Croatan National Forest, which had burned at least 114 acres.
Meanwhile, in South Carolina, a wildfire near Myrtle Beach grew rapidly, burning 1,200 acres by Sunday morning. Smoke and flames reached areas near Carolina Forest. Evacuation orders that started on Saturday expanded to more neighborhoods overnight. Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) recommended residents prepare a "go-bag" in case further evacuations were needed. Fortunately, by Sunday morning, no structures had burned, and there were no reported injuries.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning across much of the Southeast on Saturday due to a combination of high winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures, creating a critical fire risk. February’s rainfall in the Carolinas was 1.5 to 2.5 inches below average, with several cities marking their driest Februarys on record.
Weather.com meteorologist Robb Ellis explained that while wildfires are common in parts of the Carolinas and play a natural role in the ecosystem, especially in regions like the Sandhills and Coastal Plain, the unusually dry spring conditions have exacerbated the danger. South Carolina's Forestry Commission imposed a statewide burning ban on Saturday, with Governor Henry McMaster warning that violators could face jail time.