Numerous wildfires swept through North and South Carolina on Sunday, leading authorities to issue evacuation orders and establish emergency shelters. The fires, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, posed significant challenges across both states and much of the Eastern Seaboard.
According to the South Carolina State Fire Marshal’s Office, 175 wildfires were actively burning across the state, consuming over 4,200 acres of land and placing heavy demands on firefighting resources. Emergency response teams were engaged in multiple areas, including Horry, Spartanburg, Union, Oconee, and Pickens counties.
The most significant of these fires ignited on Saturday in Carolina Forest, a community situated west of Myrtle Beach. It expanded rapidly overnight, compelling residents from at least six neighborhoods to evacuate, officials reported.
By 5:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission confirmed that the fire had grown to over 1,600 acres and was 30% contained.
Dramatic footage captured flames surging dangerously close to homes, with thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Despite the intensity of the blaze, officials stated that no structures had been lost and no injuries had been reported.
In response to the crisis, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday, enabling the allocation of additional funds and resources for the firefighting effort. A statewide ban on outdoor fires remains in place.
“This state of emergency ensures that our first responders, who are working tirelessly and risking their lives to protect our communities from these wildfires, have the resources they need,” McMaster stated.
The South Carolina National Guard confirmed its assistance to the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources in containing the fires in Horry County. Two Blackhawk helicopters, each capable of carrying approximately 600 gallons of water, were deployed to aid suppression efforts.
Myrtle Beach Resident Faces Evacuation: ‘I’m Worried About Our Home’
Jason Daily, 52, was at his home in western Myrtle Beach when he received an evacuation alert on his phone Sunday morning. Given the area’s susceptibility to hurricanes, he had already prepared a go-bag with essential documents but still needed to secure his two African serval cats, Cage and Raven, in their kennels.
Within 30 minutes, Daily loaded his pets into his truck and drove to Conway, where he owns a contracting business. There, he released the cats in a safe space and organized a barbecue in the parking lot for fellow evacuees.
On Saturday, he first noticed smoke outside his window and quickly realized the severity of the fire. Stepping outside, he remarked that “all you could smell” was smoke.
Having lived in Horry County for decades and with a background as a retired firefighter, Daily described this fire as the worst he had seen since 2009, when a wildfire destroyed 76 homes and scorched over 19,000 acres.
“I’m worried about our home, but it’s just belongings that can be replaced,” he said, adding that he had been offered temporary places to stay if he couldn’t return home that evening. “Everything important to me is out of the house.”
North Carolina Wildfire Threatens Mountain Communities
In North Carolina, a wildfire burning in the Blue Ridge Mountains posed a significant threat to the towns of Saluda and Tryon, both near the South Carolina border.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Melrose Fire had consumed 400 acres and remained uncontained, according to Polk County Emergency Management. “At this time, evacuations remain voluntary for those in the affected areas,” officials stated.
Firefighters from both state and local agencies were actively battling the blaze by air and on the ground. The Saluda Fire Department indicated on Facebook that the fire appeared to have originated from a fallen power line.
Is Myrtle Beach Impacted by the Wildfires?
Despite its proximity to the large wildfire in eastern South Carolina, Myrtle Beach, home to nearly 40,000 residents, has not suffered any damage.
However, the fire has already burned over 1,200 acres in Carolina Forest, just west of Myrtle Beach, forcing evacuations in multiple neighborhoods.
The Myrtle Beach Fire Department is among more than 30 agencies assisting Horry County Fire Rescue in combating the blaze.
Heightened Fire Risk Across the Eastern U.S.
On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued warnings from Georgia to New Jersey regarding the heightened risk of wildfires.
“The combination of dry fuels and low relative humidity continues to raise concerns for dangerous fire behavior,” the weather service office in Columbia, South Carolina, reported. “While winds will be lighter, dry conditions will persist as a significant concern.”
A special weather statement was also issued for central and southern New Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and northeastern Maryland, highlighting the elevated wildfire risk.
“Minimum relative humidity values will be near 20%, combined with northwest winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph,” stated the weather service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. “These conditions could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, making them difficult to control.”
In Georgia, the Forestry Commission reported responding to 137 wildfires that burned more than 2,300 acres on Saturday. While conditions were expected to improve slightly on Sunday, officials urged residents to remain “extremely cautious with anything that may start fires outdoors.”
New Jersey Battles Two Wildfires
Two wildfires were burning in New Jersey—one in Mercer County and another in Salem County.
As of Saturday night, the Salem County fire had burned around 50 acres and was 85% contained, according to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service. No roads or structures had been affected.
Meanwhile, the Mercer County fire had scorched more than 270 acres and was 80% contained by Sunday morning. The fire service reported that 30 residential and four commercial structures had been threatened but remained unharmed.
Source: USA Today