Brush fires driven by strong winds and dry conditions erupted in North and South Carolina on Saturday, leading to evacuations in various communities. A fire in the mountains threatened Tryon and Saluda, prompting evacuations; both towns have small populations. Additionally, a fire near Myrtle Beach, SC, was 75% contained, with some neighborhoods ordered to evacuate. Another fire near Six Mile S.C. saw recommended evacuations but no official orders. These incidents coincided with a red-flag warning indicating a high fire risk due to gusty winds and unusually low rainfall, though conditions were expected to improve overnight.
Brush fires driven by strong winds and dry weather erupted on Saturday in North and South Carolina, leading authorities to mandate evacuations in various areas.
On Saturday afternoon, a brush fire in the foothills posed a threat to Tryon and Saluda, two small towns situated approximately 40 miles south of Asheville, N.C.
Polk County reported that multiple fire departments were responding to a fire endangering Meadowlark Drive in Tryon, which had been evacuated. Tryon has roughly 1,500 residents, while Saluda has fewer than 1,000.
The county mentioned via social media that the Tryon brush fire was spreading quickly and that several fire departments had been deployed.
A brush fire along the South Carolina coast was endangering Carolina Forest, S.C., located just west of Myrtle Beach. As of early Saturday evening, that fire was reported to be 75 percent contained, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
“Crews are actively working towards containing this fire,” stated Horry County Fire Rescue, the agency leading the firefighting efforts, on social media Saturday evening. Several neighborhoods in Carolina Forest were under evacuation orders.
A separate fire ignited near Six Mile, S.C., a rural area about 30 miles west of Greenville. County officials recommended evacuations on several streets; however, as of Saturday evening, no formal evacuation orders had been issued.
These fires started while a significant portion of the southeastern U.S. was under a red-flag warning, a notice from the National Weather Service indicating a heightened risk of fire incidents.
Strong winds, dry conditions, and afternoon temperatures in the low 70s contributed to the swift spread of the fires.
Additionally, South Carolina experienced notably low rainfall in February, leaving vegetation parched. For example, Myrtle Beach, S.C., has recorded only 2.30 inches of rain since January 1, compared to the 6.30 inches that is typical for this period. North Carolina saw slightly more rain last month but still experienced below-average precipitation.
The risk of fire is anticipated to diminish overnight as winds subside. The red flag warnings were expected to end at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Claire Fahy contributed reporting.