Wildfires Ravage North and South Carolina: Emergency Declared as Crews Battle Blazes

Emergency measures have been enacted in North and South Carolina as wildfires continue to spread

Wildfires Ravage North and South Carolina: Emergency Declared as Crews Battle Blazes

Emergency measures have been enacted in North and South Carolina as wildfires continue to spread, forcing evacuations across multiple communities.

Firefighters responded to over 170 wildfires across both states throughout the weekend, with a particularly large blaze near Myrtle Beach in South Carolina expanding significantly overnight on Saturday.

A wildfire near Carolina Forest, located just west of the popular tourist destination in Horry County, covered an area of 1,600 acres. By Sunday evening, the South Carolina Forestry Commission reported that it was 30 percent contained.

Officials later announced that residents of neighborhoods previously evacuated due to the Carolina Forest wildfire were permitted to return home.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency, stating it was intended "to further support wildfire response efforts across the state" and to ensure first responders "continue to have the resources they need."

In North Carolina, a brush fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 40 miles south of Asheville, posed a serious threat to nearby communities. By Sunday afternoon, this wildfire had consumed between 400 and 500 acres and remained completely uncontained, according to Polk County Emergency Management.

North Carolina Forest Service Deploys Helicopters for Fire Suppression

The U.S. Forest Service reported that multiple wildfires burned across more than 400 acres in four national forests throughout North Carolina on Sunday. The most extensive fire, covering roughly 300 acres, was located in Uwharrie National Forest, approximately 50 miles east of Charlotte.

Tryon, a small town in Polk County, issued evacuation orders on Saturday as flames spread quickly. On Sunday, officials confirmed that those evacuation orders remained in place.

By Sunday afternoon, the wildfire in Polk County had engulfed about 400 acres with no containment. The North Carolina Forest Service utilized helicopters for water drops while conducting back-burning operations on the ground. Officials cautioned that residents should expect heavy smoke in the vicinity as these measures continued.

Firefighters Battle Blaze Near Myrtle Beach

Efforts were underway to control a wildfire in the Carolina Forest area west of Myrtle Beach, where mandatory evacuations were ordered for multiple neighborhoods, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.

On Sunday afternoon, the South Carolina Forestry Commission estimated that the fire had spread across 1.9 square miles with no containment. Officials confirmed that no buildings had been lost, and no injuries had been reported as of Sunday morning.

Approximately 410 personnel were assigned to manage the fire, and officials expected their presence to continue until full containment was achieved. Evacuation orders remained in place, and authorities advised residents in the Carolina Forest region to stay prepared with emergency plans and essential supplies in case further evacuations became necessary.

Wildfire Status in North Carolina

Fire crews in North Carolina worked to suppress multiple wildfires across four national forests. The most significant fire, burning in Uwharrie National Forest, was about 50 miles east of Charlotte and covered 400 acres. By Sunday afternoon, it had reached approximately one-third containment.

Meanwhile, in Polk County, Tryon remained under an evacuation order as another wildfire continued to expand. This fire had scorched 500 acres and remained completely uncontained, prompting officials to urge some residents to leave their homes on Saturday.

Blackthorn Drive Fire Fully Contained

One of two wildfires in the Carolina Forest area, which together burned nearly 2,000 acres over the weekend, has been successfully contained.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission reported that the Blackthorn Drive Fire, the smaller of the two, had reached 100 percent containment.

Crews Face Challenges Due to Dry Conditions and High Winds

Firefighters in North and South Carolina battled wildfires on Sunday under extremely dry conditions and gusty winds, prompting additional evacuation orders in certain areas.

The National Weather Service issued warnings about heightened fire risks due to a combination of dry vegetation and critically low humidity levels.

To support containment efforts, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday. A statewide burning ban remained in effect as crews continued their work to bring the wildfires under control.