The Carolinas found themselves in the throes of anxiety as multiple wildfires blazed dangerously in the region, prompting the evacuation of numerous neighborhoods due to dry conditions and relentless gusts of wind over the weekend. In North Carolina, a particularly menacing fire erupted in the Blue Ridge mountains, compelling residents of Tryon and Saluda to flee their homes on Saturday. By nightfall, the inferno had ravaged 400 to 500 acres of land, with containment efforts yielding no progress, as disclosed by Polk County Emergency Management. The affected towns of Tryon and Saluda, situated approximately 40 miles south of Asheville, are home to populations of around 1,600 and 1,000 individuals, respectively. Even residents in areas not subjected to evacuation orders spent a restless night on Saturday, anxiously scouring social media platforms for updates on the encroaching danger.
The U.S. Forest Service confirmed its active engagement in combating wildfires across all four national forests in North Carolina. Of particular concern on Sunday was the blaze raging in Croatan National Forest, where a substantial 114 acres had succumbed to the flames. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, a fire near Myrtle Beach experienced a rapid escalation in size, scorching a staggering 1,200 acres by the early hours of Sunday. Plumes of smoke and menacing flames encroached upon residential areas in Carolina Forest, prompting an expansion of evacuation orders to encompass additional neighborhoods overnight. Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) advised residents to maintain a prepared “go-bag” in case of further evacuation directives. As of 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, HCFR reported no structural damage or injuries resulting from the blaze.
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for a significant portion of the Southeast on Saturday, citing a perilous combination of strong winds, diminished humidity levels, and elevated temperatures that markedly escalated the risk of wildfires. Furthermore, below-average rainfall in the Carolinas during February, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 inches, exacerbated the dry conditions. Notably, several cities recorded historically dry February weather, ranking among the top 10 driest on record.
Meteorologist Robb Ellis of Weather.com shed light on the natural occurrence of wildfires in certain parts of the Carolinas, underscoring their integral role in the region’s ecosystem, particularly in the Sandhills and Coastal Plain areas. Pine forests, in particular, rely on periodic wildfires to facilitate seed dispersal from pine cones and to initiate the rejuvenation of vegetation for new growth. Ellis noted that while controlled burns are a routine practice in these regions during spring, the prevailing conditions this season deviate significantly from the norm due to heightened aridity.
In response to the escalating wildfire threat, South Carolina’s Forestry Commission enacted a statewide burning ban on Saturday. Governor Henry McMaster, via social media, issued a stern warning that individuals
