The fire near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina doubled its size overnight as several fires burned in Carolina on Sunday, prompting evacuation near the coast and near the mountains.
The biggest fire threatened Carolina forests, a community just west of Myrtle Beach in Holly County. The wildfires spread over 1,200 acres, a zero percent as of Sunday morning, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
A dramatic video on Sunday morning showed firefighters fighting the flames as the fire approached the house. No injuries had been reported as of Sunday morning and the building was not lost in the fire, according to Holly County officials.
Public security workers knocked on doors through public announcement systems and blown up overnight through public announcement systems as evacuation orders expanded. Emergency services warned drivers to recognize low visibility due to smoke.
In North Carolina, mountain brush fires threatened Trion and Salda, a small community of Blue Ridge Mountain, about 40 miles south of Asheville. The fire burned 400 acres, a zero percent as of Sunday morning, according to Polk County Emergency Management.
Evacuation was ordered on Saturday and remained on Sunday in Trion, which has a population of about 1,500. Salda has fewer than 1,000 residents.
The fire was caused by fallen power lines, quickly spreading the mountains and threatening several buildings, according to Salda's fire rescue.
The fire ignited, but the majority of the southeastern United States had been warned of a red eruption. This indicates that warnings from the National Weather Service are at a higher risk of firing. Most of these warnings expired late on Saturday night.
The Georgia Forestry Commission said on social media it responded to 137 wildfires that burned 2,390 acres on Saturday. The conditions “were slightly better” on Sunday, the agency said, but it warned residents not to do anything that could cause fire.
The low winds, dry air and high afternoon temperatures of the 70s helped to promote the rapid spread of fires. Another factor: South Carolina has an unusually low rainfall in February, with dry vegetation.
Myrtle Beach, for example, has recorded 2.30 inches of rain since January 1, but has been 6.30 inches of rain, which is considered normal this time of year. North Carolina was a little damp last month, but it also suffered sub-average rain.
Claire Fahee and Amanda Holpucci Reports of contributions.
