Wildfires force evacuations as crews battle flames in North and South Carolina

3 hrs ago

Kalé Carey Reporter

By Kalé Carey (Reporter), Jack Henry (Video Editor)

Wildfires are sweeping across the East Coast, with thousands evacuated in North and South Carolina. Dry, windy conditions fueled the situation.
South Carolina’s governor declared a state of emergency, with over 175 active fires in the state over the weekend.
The National Guard is assisting with firefighting efforts.

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Wildfires are ravaging the East Coast following weeks of destructive blazes in Los Angeles earlier this year. As flames sweep through North and South Carolina, hundreds have been evacuated, with warnings of dry, windy conditions that continue to fuel the spread of the fires.

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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, R, declared a state of emergency on Sunday, March 2, as more than 175 fires burned across the state.

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McMaster also issued a statewide burn ban, emphasizing in a social media post, “Our first responders and firefighters are risking their lives to contain many fires.”

South Carolina wildfires

As of Monday, March 3, firefighters have managed to contain most of the wildfires, bringing the total number down to fewer than 120. However, dozens of crews are still battling blazes in several areas, including the Carolina Forest near Myrtle Beach, where over 1,600 acres have burned, forcing multiple neighborhoods to evacuate, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

The South Carolina National Guard has deployed Blackhawk helicopters to assist with firefighting efforts, which carry 600 gallons of water to drop on the flames.

North Carolina wildfires

To the north, first responders in North Carolina are working to control wildfires in four state forests. One of the largest fires in Polk County saw crews set controlled fires in an effort to contain the 480-acre blaze, which is currently 30% under control.

Overall, the North Carolina Forest Service reports over 210 fires are active, though most are either contained or relatively small in size.

As of now, no injuries have been reported in either North or South Carolina, and no structures have been destroyed by the fires. However, officials are continuing damage assessments as smoke clears and the flames subside.

Relief is expected from an incoming cold front

The National Weather Service has forecast a cold front moving through the region, bringing rain to help ease the dry conditions that have fueled the fires in the Southeast.

Tags: Emergency, evacuations, Henry McMaster, Los Angeles, National Weather Service, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wildfire

[Kalé Carey]

WILDFIRES ARE NOW RAVAGING THE EAST COAST, AFTER WEEKS OF DEVASTATING BLAZES IN LOS ANGELES EARLIER THIS YEAR.

HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AS FLAMES SWEEP THROUGH THE CAROLINAS, WITH WARNINGS ABOUT DRY, WINDY CONDITIONS FUELING THE SPREAD.

SOUTH CAROLINA’S GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY SUNDAY WITH MORE THAN 175 FIRES BURNING THROUGH THE STATE.

MCMASTER ALSO PUT A STATEWIDE BURN BAN IN EFFECT, SAYING “OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND FIREFIGHTS ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES TO CONTAIN MANY FIRES.:

AS OF MONDAY FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO CONTAIN MOST OF THE WILDFIRES, BRINGING THE NUMBER UNDER 140.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION SAYS DOZENS OF CREWS ARE STILL BATTLING BLAZES IN THE CAROLINA FOREST NEAR MYRTLE BEACH, WHICH HAS BURNED OVER 1,600 ACRES AND FORCED SEVERAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO EVACUATE.

SOUTH CAROLINA’S NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS CARRYING 600 GALLONS OF WATER TO HELP FIGHT THE WILDFIRES.

NEXT DOOR NORTH CAROLINA FIRST RESPONDERS ARE WORKING TO CONTAIN WILDFIRES IN FOUR OF THE STATES FORESTS–ONE OF THEM CAUSED BY A DOWNED POWER LINE.

ONE OF THE LARGEST FIRES IS IN POLK COUNTY, WHERE CREWS ARE SETTING CONTROLLED FIRES TO HELP CONTAIN THE 480 ACRE BLAZE, WHICH IS NOW 30 PERCENT UNDER CONTROL

IN TOTAL, THE NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE SAYS THERE’S OVER 210 FIRES BURNING, BUT MOST ARE EITHER CONTAINED OR SMALL IN SIZE.

OFFICIALS SAY NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND NO STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN BURNED BY THE FIRES IN NORTH OR SOUTH CAROLINA. HOWEVER, THEY’RE TAKING A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AS THE SMOKE AND THE FLAMES CLEAR.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS A COLD FRONT IS ON THE WAY, BRINGING RAIN TO EASE THE DRY CONDITIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KALÉ CAREY

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