Wildfires in Carolinas prompt evacuations, trigger S.C. state of emergency

Firefighters tackle a wildfire in the Carolina Forest neighborhood in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Sunday, March 2. Multiple forest fires in the area have caused evacuations along the South Carolina coast. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images

Firefighters in North and South Carolina were battling dozens of wildfires over the weekend during dry, windy conditions that saw authorities order some residents to evacuate.

The big picture: South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) declared a state of emergency emergency Sunday after officials declared a statewide burn ban the previous day that the governor said would remain in effect indefinitely.

Evacuation orders were temporarily issued in response to the state’s largest blaze, the Carolina Forest Fire, near Myrtle Beach, S.C. — which officials said had razed some 1,600 acres at 30% containment on Sunday evening as residents were permitted to return home.
North Carolina officials also issued evacuation orders in response to a fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 176 Fire had burned over 500 acres by 8pm and was 30% contained Sunday, per a Polk County Emergency Management said on Facebook post that said a decision on lifting evacuation orders would be made Monday.

Zoom out: Strong winds and very dry conditions were promoting “critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions across portions of the Southern Plains, especially across eastern New Mexico and far western Texas” on Sunday, per the National Weather Service.

“As this system initially comes through the Southwest and out into the southern High Plains, there will be concerns for gusty winds, and this coupled with the dry conditions will support elevated to critical fire weather concerns,” the NWS said in Sunday forecast discussion.
“Areas of southern Arizona through southern New Mexico and western Texas will see the greatest fire weather concerns through Sunday and early Monday.”