North Carolina in Crisis: Wildfires Devastate Forests, Force Evacuations

• North Carolina Crisis: Evacuations Ordered
• Wildfire Emergency in South Carolina
• Outdoor burning bans enforced

Wildfires continue to wreak havoc across North Carolina and South Carolina, forcing evacuations and prompting emergency declarations by local authorities.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety issued mandatory evacuations at 8:20 p.m. on Saturday for parts of Polk County, located in the western part of the state, roughly 80 miles from Charlotte.

“Visibility in the area will decrease, and roads/evacuation routes may become blocked; if you don’t leave now, you could become trapped, injured, or killed,” warned the agency on social media.

A shelter has been set up in Columbus, North Carolina, for displaced residents.

North Carolina Fires Worsen in Areas Still Recovering from Hurricane Helene

Firefighters were working against dry, windy conditions Sunday as they battle wildfires scorching parts of the Carolinas, including a 1,600-acre wildfire that forced evacuations in Myrtle Beach. https://t.co/s5q73bhqfg pic.twitter.com/1CT0lul93x

– Accuweather (@accuweather) March 3, 2025

The State Forest Service reported three active fires in Polk County, with the largest spanning between 1.7 and 1.9 square miles.

Additional wildfires were reported in Burke, Madison, and Stokes counties, the latter near the Virginia border.

The region is still reeling from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene last September, which destroyed roads, bridges, and infrastructure.

The hurricane impacted more than 5,000 miles of state-maintained roads and damaged about 7,000 private roads, bridges, and culverts across North Carolina, now ravaged by the fires.

In South Carolina, Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Saturday due to a wildfire at Table Rock, which began Friday in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“As this wildfire continues to spread, the emergency declaration allows us to mobilize resources quickly and ensure our firefighters have the support they need to protect lives and property,” McMaster said in a statement.

He also reminded the public that a statewide outdoor burn ban has been in effect since Friday, imposed by the Forestry Commission.

“Violators may face jail time,” the executive order emphasized.

Table Rock Burns Out of Control, Terrain Hampers Firefighting Efforts

The Table Rock fire has consumed over 300 acres, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

“The steep terrain makes it difficult to bring in heavy machinery normally used to build containment lines,” the commission explained.

In addition, “spot fires continue to ignite outside the original burn area.”

Downed trees left behind by Hurricane Helene have added to the fuel load, making fire suppression more difficult.

Firefighting efforts were paused Saturday night and resumed Sunday morning with air support and heavy equipment.

The public was urged to avoid State Highway 11, which runs close to the Table Rock fire zone.

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Meanwhile, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service has been battling another wildfire that began Saturday in Wharton State Forest.

By Sunday morning, the fire had scorched 2.7 square miles and was approximately 50% contained.

Two park campsites were evacuated, though the flames were moving away from 18 nearby structures.

The cause of the North Carolina fires remains under investigation.

This is a worsening situation in North Carolina.

Polk County spokesperson Kellie Cannon warned that the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires are dangerously close to merging, separated only by a single road.

A red air quality alert was issued due to dense smoke in the area of the North Carolina fires, The New York Times reported.

The state reiterated Sunday that the burn ban remains in effect.

“This leaves fewer first responders available in other parts of the state,” the Department of Public Safety stated on X.

“Burn bans help us focus resources on the most affected communities and reduce the risk of new fires elsewhere,” officials said.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings—indicating high fire risk—across southwestern Virginia, the southern Appalachians in Tennessee, and southwestern North Carolina, set to expire Sunday night.

The situation remains critical, and emergency crews are working tirelessly to contain the multiple blazes threatening the region.

SOURCE: AP / DW

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