Wildfires sparked by dry and windy weather broke out in North and South Carolina on Saturday. Evacuations have been declared in several areas, with the fire threatening homes and infrastructure, US media reported.
In Polk County, North Carolina, the fire started in the area of US Highway 176 between the towns of Tryon and Saluda. According to the Saluda Fire Department, the fire had managed to burn more than 400 acres (161 hectares) of forest overnight Sunday and has not yet been contained.
Jeremy Waldrop of the North Carolina Fire Department said structures may be at risk of burning and an assessment of possible damage could be made at a later date. Polk County officials announced the evacuation of residents living along the highway, warning that the fire was spreading quickly.
Tryon and Saluda are small towns with populations of about 1,500 and less than 1,000, respectively. They are located about 25 miles (40 kilometres) south of Asheville.
“Residents can expect an active firefighter presence in the areas of Bear Creek, Haring Rock, Rhododendron Drive, Oceanview Drive and Meadowlark Drive, where crews are working to protect homes and reduce fire risks,” the Saluda Fire Department said.
In South Carolina, the situation is also tense. In Horry County, along the coast near Myrtle Beach, a fire is threatening residential areas in Carolina Forest. Authorities have evacuated several neighbourhoods, and two aircraft and a Blackhawk helicopter have been deployed to fight the fire, dropping water on the fire’s hotspots.
“Crews continue to work to contain this fire,” county fire officials said.
Total ban on campfires
The South Carolina Forestry Commission imposed a total ban on campfires across the state after more than 100 fires were reported on Saturday. A spokesman for the commission said many of the fires have been contained, but the situation remains difficult.
The US National Weather Service (NWS) earlier issued a high fire danger warning for western North Carolina and northern South Carolina. It was in effect until late Saturday night, but was replaced Sunday with a fire danger statement for the Columbia and Greenville-Spartanburg areas. Meteorologists warned that “dry vegetation and low humidity” could contribute to rapid fire spread.
One of the causes of the fires was abnormally low precipitation in February. Mertle Beach has received just 2.30 inches of rain since the beginning of the year, well below the region’s normal of 6.30 inches. North Carolina had a slightly better precipitation situation, but even there the rainfall was below average. In addition, gusty winds, dry air and high temperatures during the day near 21° F (-6° C) contributed to the rapid spread of fires.
Dry weather, strong winds and unusually high temperatures contributed to the rapid spread of the fires, experts said. Authorities urged residents to exercise caution and follow evacuation recommendations.
