Wildfires raging across North Carolina and South Carolina have prompted emergency declarations, mandatory evacuations, and a massive firefighting response, as dry conditions and high winds continue to fuel the blazes. Nearly 8 square miles have already burned in Polk County, North Carolina alone, where three major fires remained 0% contained as of late Sunday, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency over the weekend to support efforts to control the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County. The blaze, located in Table Rock State Park, has grown to over 1,300 acres since igniting Friday, with no containment reported.
"The statewide burning ban remains in effect as wildfire risks remain high across the state," McMaster stated. "Anyone who violates this ban can and will go to jail."
The Table Rock Fire was being managed as part of a larger Table Rock Complex Fire on Sunday, after officials combined it with the nearby Persimmon Ridge Fire, which expanded from 50 acres to approximately 800 acres in one day. Both fires had 0% containment as of Sunday evening.
"The burnout, which remains in progress, is being deemed successful in removing said fuels," the South Carolina Forestry Commission said in a statement, referring to controlled burns aimed at halting the spread toward residential areas.
In North Carolina, more than 2,500 acres have been scorched by the Deep Woods Fire, and evacuations were ordered for multiple roadways as firefighters worked to protect structures on the southern edge of the blaze. The Black Cove Fire, which began Wednesday in Green River Gorge, has consumed over 2,000 acres. Both fires remain 0% contained.
Polk County officials issued new evacuation orders Sunday for five additional roadways. Brian Rogers, a state forest ranger overseeing the federal incident management team, told residents at a community meeting, "We're holding that fire in that creek drainage. We haven't had any movement on it."
The third blaze in the Black Cove Complex, the 199-acre Fish Hook Fire, was listed at 50% containment, and evacuation orders for the area were lifted. "We're feeling really confident of where we're at on Fish Hook," Rogers added.
Hundreds of firefighters from across the U.S., including 25 from Oregon, have joined the effort. Gov. Josh Stein confirmed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency had approved a grant to aid North Carolina's response. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler stressed the urgency of public compliance, stating, "It is imperative that folks adhere to this burn ban until further notice."
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings across much of both states, citing low humidity, strong winds up to 28 mph, and unusually dry conditions. On Sunday, relative humidity hovered around 20%, prompting "fire danger statements" throughout the western foothills of the Carolinas.
Officials said the abundance of downed timber from Hurricane Helene, which struck the region six months ago, has exacerbated the wildfire threat. The South Carolina Forestry Commission noted, "Exacerbating the situation is an abundance of downed timber from Hurricane Helene, which has increased the fuel load on the mountain."
The U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies much of North and South Carolina as either "abnormally dry" or under moderate drought, conditions that forecasters warn will sustain the elevated fire risk throughout the week despite possible rain on Monday.
