A relentless combination of dry air and strong winds has ignited wildfires across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, forcing evacuations and prompting officials to declare a state of emergency. South Carolina has been particularly hard hit, with more than 175 fires burning across 6.6 square miles on Sunday. By early Monday, the state’s forestry commission reported that the number of active fires had dropped slightly to 163.
In response to the crisis, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday to mobilize resources for fire containment efforts. A statewide burning ban has also been issued to prevent further outbreaks. Several fires have forced evacuations in Horry County, with residents in at least eight neighborhoods ordered to leave their homes as flames spread rapidly.
Firefighters, with assistance from the South Carolina National Guard, have been battling the blazes from both the ground and the air. Two Blackhawk helicopters were deployed to drop 600-gallon loads of water on the fires, providing critical support to containment efforts. Crews have made progress in controlling the flames in Carolina Forest, where evacuations had been enforced over the weekend. By late Sunday, Horry County Fire Rescue announced that residents of Carolina Forest were allowed to return home.
Emergency Shelters Open as Thousands Are Forced to Flee
As wildfires raged in Horry County, the Red Cross of South Carolina set up emergency shelters to accommodate displaced residents. Approximately 135 people sought refuge at a county recreation center while waiting for the all-clear to return home. By Sunday evening, the South Carolina Forestry Commission estimated that the fire in Carolina Forest had burned through 2.5 square miles of land.
Despite the widespread destruction, officials confirmed that no structures had been lost, and no injuries had been reported as of Sunday morning. Firefighters remain on high alert as weather conditions continue to pose a risk for additional flare-ups.
