Firefighters had been battling 175 wildfires that erupted throughout South and North Carolina in a single day amid windy and dry situations, threatening houses and prompting evacuations, authorities stated.
There are ongoing response operations to greater than 175 wildfires which have burned a mixed 4,200 acres throughout the state — together with blazes burning in Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union and Pickens counties, the South Carolina State Hearth Marshal stated Sunday.
One of many greatest wildfires raging Sunday morning was threatening residents within the Carolina Forest close to Myrtle Seashore, South Carolina, in Horry County, officers stated.
The short-spreading fireplace within the Carolina Forest had burned greater than 1,200 acres by Sunday morning and was threatening the communities of Walkers Woods and Avalon, in keeping with the South Carolina Forest Fee. The fireplace was 0% contained, officers stated.
Smoke rises from a wildfire within the Carolina Forest in Horry County, South Carolina, Mar. 1, 2025.
Jason Jawz
The fireplace was additionally threatening houses throughout the metropolis limits of Myrtle Seashore, prompting extra evacuations, officers stated.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an government order on Sunday declaring a state of emergency to help ongoing response to wildfires ravaging his state. The order enhances ongoing emergency response efforts as firefighters work to comprise the wildfires affecting numerous areas.
“This State of Emergency ensures that our first responders, who’re working tirelessly and risking their lives to guard our communities from these wildfires, have the assets they want,” McMaster stated in an announcement.
On Saturday night time, McMaster introduced {that a} statewide burning ban was in impact.
Smoke rises from a wildfire within the Carolina Forest in Horry County, South Carolina, Mar. 1, 2025.
Brandon Runnells
“Which means you’ll be able to and can go to jail for beginning a fireplace open air in South Carolina, interval,” McMaster stated in a social media put up on Saturday night time.
On Sunday, McMaster added, “Harmful wildfire situations require {that a} statewide burning ban stay in impact till additional discover.”
The reason for the Carolina Forest Hearth is below investigation. The blaze erupted amid wind gusts of as much as 40 mph and intensely dry situations, fireplace officers stated.
A hearth in Horry County north of the Carolina Forest had scorched greater than 300 acres by Sunday morning and was burning uncontrolled, officers stated.
Crimson flag fireplace hazard warnings had been issued throughout South Carolina and a statewide burning ban was ordered.
“Which means you’ll be able to and can go to jail for beginning a fireplace open air in South Carolina, interval,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster stated in a social media put up on Saturday night time.
“Our first responders are risking their lives to comprise many fires throughout South Carolina tonight,” he added.
Video footage captured plumes of smoke and flames wafting above a treeline and homes within the Carolina Forest.
Right this moment’s temperatures.
ABC Information
One other giant wildfire about 35 miles south of Myrtle Seashore broke out Saturday and threatened houses in Georgetown County, South Carolina, and prompted evacuations within the city of Prince George, officers stated.
The fireplace, in keeping with the Prince George Hearth Division, had grown to greater than 800 acres by Sunday morning, however firefighters had been gaining the higher hand on the blaze and practically all evacuations have been lifted, officers stated.
The fireplace is below investigation.
The Prince George fireplace flared up in an space the place firefighters had been conducting a prescribed or managed burn earlier this week close to the Arcadia Plantation, in keeping with Jackie Broach, a spokesperson for Georgetown County.
In Pickens County, South Carolina, one more fireplace was burning Sunday morning within the Six Mile Mountain space, prompting evacuations, in keeping with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Workplace.
Firefighters shortly responded to the Six Mile Mountain Hearth, stopping it from spreading to houses, in keeping with the sheriff’s workplace. The fireplace was 85% contained after burning practically 300 acres, officers stated.
In Polk County, North Carolina, close to the border with South Carolina, a fast-moving brush fireplace ignited simply after 2 p.m. native time on Saturday and grew in a single day, threatening the cities of Melrose, Tryon and Saluda, the place obligatory evacuation orders had been issued, in keeping with the Saluda Hearth and Rescue Division.
The Polk County Hearth began at about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, attributable to a downed energy line close to Freeway 176, officers stated. By 9 p.m. Saturday, the blaze had unfold to 400 acres with no containment reported, in keeping with fireplace officers.
Hearth danger forecast.
ABC Information
Dry and breezy situations had been prompting crimson flag warnings throughout a lot of the Southeast on Saturday and into Sunday. Many of the crimson flag warnings expired by Sunday morning as winds calmed down.
However different areas within the Southwest had been bracing for crucial fireplace climate on Sunday and into Monday, together with elements of New Mexico and Texas.
ABC Information’ Victoria Arancio, Jessica Gorman and Daniel Amarante contributed to this report.
