Wildfires scorch the Carolinas, SC Governor McMaster declares state of emergency

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster connected Sunday declared a authorities of exigency arsenic firefighters conflict hundreds of wildfires crossed the Carolinas.

"I person declared a State of Emergency to further enactment wildfire effect efforts crossed the authorities and guarantee our archetypal responders proceed to person the resources they need," McMaster wrote successful a station connected X. "A statewide outdoor burning prohibition remains successful effect—violators volition beryllium prosecuted. Please enactment informed."

Nearly 5,000 acres person burned successful the Palmetto State, with 170 fires reported, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC).

Ignitions were caused by precise debased comparative humidity, coupled with drying fuels resulting from the deficiency of important rain. High winds led the fires to turn and dispersed rapidly.

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Crews enactment to incorporate a occurrence successful the Carolina Forest country westbound of the coastal edifice metropolis of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Sunday, March 2, 2025, wherever residents were ordered to evacuate respective neighborhoods. (WMBF-TV via AP)

The largest of the fires is successful Carolina Forest, a assemblage 10 miles westbound of Myrtle Beach successful Horry County.

As of Sunday afternoon, the wildfire incinerated 1,200 acres and was 0% contained, according to the SCFC.

Multiple wood fires successful the country person caused evacuations on the South Carolina coast. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

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More than 400 firefighters are battling the blaze with astatine slightest 127 occurrence apparatus, according to the Horry County Fire Department. 

No structures person been lost, and nary injuries person been reported, arsenic of Sunday morning.

U.S. Army Soldiers with Company A, 111th General Support Aviation Battalion, 59 Aviation Troop Command, South Carolina Army National Guard prepared 2 Blackhawk Helicopters to assistance the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources with wildfire containment successful Horry County, South Carolina, March 2, 2025. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Elizabeth A. Schneider, South Carolina National Guard)

The South Carolina Army National Guard sent 2 Black Hawk helicopters connected Sunday to assistance the SCFC and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources with wildfire containment.

The Black Hawk h2o buckets tin transportation astir 600 gallons of water, according to the guard. 

The SCFC besides issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban for each counties, which prohibits each outdoor burning, including gait debris burning, prescribed burning and campfires successful each unincorporated areas of the state. 

A Black Hawk chopper scoops up h2o to assistance combat fires successful Horry County, South Carolina, March 2, 2025. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Elizabeth A. Schneider, South Carolina National Guard)

The ban, which volition nonstop anyone who sets a occurrence to jail, volition enactment successful effect until further notice.

Meanwhile, the North Carolina Forest Service estimates a brushwood occurrence successful the Blue Ridge Mountains, astir 40 miles southbound of Asheville, is betwixt 400 and 500 acres and is 0% contained, arsenic of Sunday afternoon.

The subject helicopters aided successful warring the wildfires. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Elizabeth A. Schneider, South Carolina National Guard)

The Melrose Fire, burning successful the Saluda and Tryon communities, was caused by a downed powerfulness line, according to Saluda Fire & Rescue. The occurrence rapidly dispersed up the mountain, threatening aggregate structures.

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North Carolina Emergency Management said determination are ongoing aerial operations to conflict the fire.