Forced evacuations and burn ban as wildfires spread across North and South Carolina
A series of wildfires erupted across North and South Carolina over the weekend, fueled by dry vegetation, low humidity, and gusty winds. The fires prompted evacuations, road closures, and a statewide burning ban in South Carolina. As of early Sunday, firefighting crews are battling blazes that have collectively scorched thousands of acres, with some fires remaining at 0% containment.
Wildfire near Carolina Forest. Image credit: Horry County Fire Rescue
In Polk County, North Carolina, approximately 64 km (40 miles) south of Asheville, the Melrose Fire has burned between 162 and 243 ha (400 and 600 acres) since igniting on Saturday. The blaze, located between the towns of Tryon and Saluda, prompted mandatory evacuations along U.S. Highway 176 as flames encroached on residential areas. As of late Saturday night, the fire was uncontained, with wind gusts reaching up to 80 km/h (50 mph), driving its rapid spread.
The fire started when a power line fell at 3910 US Hwy 176, quickly spreading up the mountain and threatening multiple structures. The Tryon and Saluda Fire Departments are responding to the blaze.
“Residents should call 911 immediately if the fire approaches their homes overnight,” Saluda Fire and Rescue advised.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported, though the full extent of property damage remains unclear.
The North Carolina Forest Service noted that additional fires have flared up across the state, including in Buncombe County near Asheville, as the region enters its spring wildfire season under unusually dry conditions following a February with below-average rainfall.
In South Carolina, Horry County Fire Rescue evacuated residents from several neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest, approximately 16 km (10 miles) west of Myrtle Beach, due to a wildfire.
Officials did not provide information on the fire’s containment status or the area burned, but reports on social media suggest the fire has burned over 486 ha (1 200 acres)
Two planes and a Black Hawk helicopter were scheduled to drop water on the fire on Sunday, March 2, according to South Carolina State Representative Tim McGinnis, citing an update from State Forester Scott Phillips. Tractors were also being deployed to create containment lines.
Multiple fires ignited across South Carolina on Saturday, some causing significant damage. A small fire near Old Highway 90 and Edge Road was contained by 21:50 LT that night.
A structure fire broke out on Tidewater Road on Friday, February 28, destroying two commercial vehicles. No damage was reported to nearby structures. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
As of 06:12 LT on Sunday, evacuations were ongoing for Blackberry Lane from the intersections of Spring Lake Drive including Pennyroyal, Alyssum, and Bluebonnet, as well as Harvest Drive from Moonbeam to Tidelands in the Spring Lake community in Carolina Forest due to the ongoing wildfire and structures threatened.
Officials evacuated the Reserve area of the Walkers Woods neighborhood and the Avalon neighborhood of Carolina Forest due to active wildfires, according to Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR).
County police and fire crews have issued another evacuation order for Covington Drive from Summerhill Drive to the community center in the Covington Lakes neighborhood of Carolina Forest. This order was issued around 04:45 LT due to the ongoing changes in the wind patterns impacting the wildfire.
Overnight, Horry County officials issued new evacuations at 03:15 LT, including homes along Arrow Wood Court, Indianola Court, and Tuckahoe Road in the Walkers Woods neighborhood.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced a statewide burn ban on Saturday due to dangerous wildfire conditions. He warned that individuals who start fires will face legal consequences as fire crews work to contain multiple wildfires.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
On top of Helene – now this? I saw this on GP and they didn’t say anything about how they started yet.
They powers that be have a massive
desire to grab that land. First the
people of North Carolina were flooded
and now the north and south of the
state are being burned out. This is
not just a natural disaster.