Governor Henry McMaster, in South Carolina, declared an emergency state to support forest fire response work
Firefighters fought forest fires on Sunday in North Carolina and South Carolina in the middle of arid conditions and winding gusts that forced the authorities to issue evacuation orders for some areas.
The National Meteorology Service warned of a growing fire risk for the region due to a combination of dry combustible material and a very low relative humidity.
In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster declared an emergency state to support forest fire response work, in addition to the fact that a prohibition was kept in force in the entire state of burning weeds.
Firefighters worked to contain a fire in the area of Carolina Forest, west of the coastal city of Myrtle Beach, where residents were ordered to evacuate several neighborhoods, according to the Horry County Fire Department. On Sunday afternoon, the Fire Department announced that the evacuees of Carolina Forest could return to their homes.
The Southern Carolina Silviculture Commission calculated Sunday afternoon that the fire had an approximate extension of 4.9 square kilometers (1.9 square miles), with 0% containment. No structures affected by fire had been reported nor had injuries registered until Sunday morning, authorities reported.
The 410 troops involved in the work were planned until the fire was content, officials of the County Fire Department said.
In North Carolina, the Federal Forest Service reported that fire teams worked to contain several forest fires that burned in four forests from various parts of the state. The largest, about 162 hectares (400 acres), consumed the Uwharrie National Forest, about 80.4 kilometers (50 miles) east of Charlotte. The agency added on Sunday afternoon that it had achieved some progress and the fire was contained in a third.
Tryon's small southwestern town, in the Polk County, North Carolina, urged some residents to evacuate on Saturday as a fire spread there quickly. The next day the authorities reported that these evacuations were still in force.
This fire consumed approximately 161.8 hectares (400 acres) on Sunday afternoon, with 0% containment, according to the Poll County Emergency Management Office/Fire Inspector. The North Carolina forest service threw water from helicopters and performed burning operations in the soil, and the residents of the area that would have a lot of smoke during those operations were warned, they indicated officials.
The authorities have not informed about the causes of fires.