More than 100 wildfires ignited in South Carolina on Saturday, with some more starting Sunday morning.
Firefighters in both South and North Carolina are fighting multiple major wildfires that erupted over the weekend and urged mandatory evacuation.
One of the state’s biggest burning fires, the Carolina Forest Fire in Holly County, doubled its size overnight. The fire is burning about five miles north of Myrtle Beach, with 0% trapped and burning more than 1,200 acres at the latest update Sunday morning.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an emergency on Sunday as firefighters fight dry and windy conditions.
Another wildfire left south of Myrtle Beach on Saturday, threatening a home in Georgetown County and prompting a brief evacuation in Prince George’s town.
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SCFC Fire Chief Daryl Jones warned of dangerous fire conditions after the Red Flag fire warning was issued last week.
Typically, wildfires in South Carolina are larger in March than in any other month. SCFC crews responded to 183 wildfires in January alone, almost doubleping the five-year average for the first month of the year. The agency recorded more than 300 wildfires in February.
Meanwhile, in North Carolina, the Melrose Fire grew on 400-500 acres. Officials determined that the Polk County brush fire was caused by a fallen power line along the highway Saturday afternoon in 176.
“The fires are spreading rapidly into the mountains and threatening multiple structures,” according to a statement from Salda Fire and Rescue.
The Tuesday remains at the zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon.
