- Wildfires are currently burning in North and South Carolina, prompting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to warn about potential looters. No reports of looting have emerged from the affected areas.
- South Carolina has declared a state of emergency, with over 175 wildfires affecting 4,200 acres on Sunday.
- In North Carolina, more than 3,000 acres have burned, with 10 active fires as of Monday night.
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As wildfires burn across North and South Carolina, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has warned of potential looters who may take advantage of the situation. As of Monday evening, March 3, there have been no reports of looting in the affected areas.
In a post on X, Noem said she has reached out to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein.
“We know local emergency managers are swiftly notifying people in the affected areas to take action to protect themselves and their belongings,” Noem wrote. “DHS stands ready to help should local emergency management directors request it.”
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McMaster declared a state of emergency Sunday, March 2, to assist with ongoing response efforts to contain the fires.
“According to the state fire marshal, there are ongoing response operations to more than 175 wildfires, impacting 4,200 acres across the state,” a press release from McMaster stated.
In North Carolina, more than 3,000 acres burned over the weekend. As of Monday evening, 10 active wildfires were burning, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
In January, when wildfires scorched thousands of acres in Southern California, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that 10 individuals were arrested and charged with looting crimes.
Nine suspects face felony charges in connection with residential burglaries in Pacific Palisades and Altadena. One other suspect was charged with arson for intentionally starting a fire in the city of Azusa, according to the DA’s office.
AS WILDFIRES RAGE IN NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA — US SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY KRISTI NOEM WARNS OF LOOTERS WHO MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.
IN A POST ON X, THE SECRETARY SAYS SHE HAS REACHED OUT TO SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER AND NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN.
“WE KNOW LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGERS ARE SWIFTLY NOTIFYING PEOPLE IN THE AFFECTED AREAS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR BELONGINGS. DHS STANDS READY TO HELP SHOULD LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS REQUEST IT,” SHE WROTE.
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR MCMASTER DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY SUNDAY TO HELP WITH THE ONGOING RESPONSE EFFORTS TO HELP CONTAIN THE FIRES.
“ACCORDING TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, THERE ARE ONGOING RESPONSE OPERATIONS TO MORE THAN 175 WILDFIRES, IMPACTING 4,200 ACRES ACROSS THE STATE,” A PRESS RELEASE FROM MCMASTER STATED.
IN NORTH CAROLINA, MORE THAN 3-THOUSAND ACRES BURNED OVER THE WEEKEND AND AS OF MONDAY EVENING, 10 ACTIVE WILDFIRES WERE STILL BURNING, ACCORDING TO THE NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE.
IN JANUARY, WHEN WILDFIRES SCORTCHED THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA – TEARING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, BURNING THOUSANDS OF STRUCTURES, LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY NATHAN HOCHMAN ANNOUNCED 10 INDIVIDUALS WERE ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH LOOTING CRIMES.
NINE SUSPECTS WERE CHARGED WITH FELONIES IN CONNECTION WITH RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN PACIFIC PALISADES AND ALTADENA, AND ONE OTHER SUSPECT WAS CHARGED WITH ARSON FOR INTENTIONALLY STARTING A FIRE IN THE CITY OF AZUSA, ACCORDING TO THE DA’S OFFICE.
AS OF MONDAY EVENING, THERE HAVE BEEN ZERO REPORTS OF LOOTING IN NORTH OR SOUTH CAROLINA WILDFIRE AREAS.
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