Firefighters battled over 170 blazes in North and South Carolina throughout the weekend, including an enormous fire near Myrtle Beach that doubled in size overnight on Saturday.
The blaze near Carolina Forest, a community just west of the tourist spot in Horry County, stretched across 1,600 acres. As of Sunday evening it was 30 percent contained, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
Video showed firefighters battling flames as the fire neared houses in the area. Later on Sunday, officials announced that the residents of all neighborhoods previously evacuated due to the Carolina Forest wildfire were able to return home.
South Carolina’s governor, Henry McMaster, declared a state of emergency “to further support wildfire response efforts across the state” and ensure first responders “continue to have the resources they need.”
In North Carolina, a brush fire in the mountains threatened communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains about 40 miles south of Asheville. The fire had burned between 400 and 500 acres and was zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon, according to Polk County Emergency Management.
Key Points
- Horry County Schools to return on Monday
- Evacuated residents allowed to return home
- Myrtle Beach fire grew to 1,600 acres at peak
- In pictures: Firefighters tackle blazes in the Carolinas
- NWS warns of increased fire danger
State of wildfires burning in North Caroilna
04:50
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Stuti Mishra
Fire crews in North Carolina are battling multiple wildfires across four national forests, with the largest burning in Uwharrie National Forest, about 50 miles (80km) east of Charlotte.
The US Forest Service said the 400-acre (162-hectare) fire, reached about one-third containment by Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, in Polk County, the small town of Tryon remains under evacuation orders as a separate wildfire continues to spread.
The blaze, which has scorched 500 acres (202 hectares) with zero containment, prompted officials to urge some residents to leave on Saturday.
Blackthorn Drive Fire 100% contained
04:18
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Stuti Mishra
One of two Carolina Forest area wildfires that burned roughly 2,000 acres over the weekend has been fully contained.
According to the South Carolina Forest Commission, the Blackthorn Drive Fire, the smaller of the two. is 100 per cent contained.
Crews battle wildfires in North and South Carolina amid dry conditions and gusty winds
04:00
,
AP
Crews battled wildfires in North and South Carolina on Sunday amid dry conditions and gusty winds and evacuations were ordered in some areas.
The National Weather Service warned of increased fire danger in the region due to a combination of critically dry fuels and very low relative humidity.
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday to support the wildfire response effort, and a statewide burning ban remained in effect.
Read more:
Watch: Wildfire spreads in Myrtle Beach, causing evacuations
03:00
,
Mike Bedigan
Horry County Schools to return on Monday
02:30
,
Mike Bedigan
Horry County Schools will run on a regular schedule on Monday based on re-entry protocols into several Carolina Forest neighborhoods, district officials have said.
“We recognize that many students, their families and staff may still be affected by the wildfires. We are committed to being flexible and working with each individual on a case-by-case basis tomorrow,” spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said in a statement.
“If you or your family are experiencing challenges due to the fires, we encourage you to reach out to your school to discuss your specific circumstances and needs.”
Evacuated residents allowed to return home
02:00
,
Mike Bedigan
Evacuated residents in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach were allowed to return home on Sunday afternoon, though were warned to be vigilant.
As of 4:25 p.m., residents of all neighborhoods were given the go ahead to go home.
Representative of South Carolina District 56 Tim McGinnis said no one was injured or killed and no structures have been lost.
A burn ban was issued in Horry County after several fires on Thursday.
Myrtle Beach fire grew to 1,600 acres at peak
01:30
,
Mike Bedigan
At its largest the California Forest wildfire grew to more than 1,600 acres, the South Carolina Forestry Commission reported on its official tracking site. As of 5.30 p.m. it was 30 percent contained.
Throughout much of Sunday officials estimated that the size of the blaze was 1,200 acres.
In pictures: Firefighters tackle blazes in the Carolinas
01:00
,
Mike Bedigan
NWS warns of increased fire danger
00:30
,
Mike Bedigan
The National Weather Service warned of increased fire danger in the region due to a combination of critically dry fuels and very low relative humidity.
The combination of dry fuels & low humidity continues concerns for dangerous fire behavior today. The SCFC has issued a statewide burn ban which prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning and campfires in all unincorporated areas of the state pic.twitter.com/wrx329dH0L
— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) March 2, 2025
No injuries reported despite large areas of damage
00:00
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Mike Bedigan
The South Carolina Forestry Commission estimated on Sunday afternoon that the blaze was burning about 1.9 square miles with zero percent containment.
No structures had succumbed to the blaze and no injuries had been reported as of Sunday morning, officials said.
The 410 personnel involved in the effort were expected to remain until the fire was contained, county fire officials said.
Evacuations are expected to remain in place and officials warned residents in the Carolina Forest area to be prepared with go-bags and emergency plans if more evacuations were called in their neighborhoods.
Fires burning in North Carolina mountains
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:30
,
Mike Bedigan
In North Carolina, the U.S. Forest Service said fire crews were working to contain multiple wildfires burning on more than 400 acres in four forests across the state on Sunday. The largest, about 300 acres, was at Uwharrie National Forest, about 50 miles east of Charlotte.
A brush fire in the Blue Ridge mountains threatened Tryon and Saluda, small communities about 40 miles south of Asheville.
The fire burned between 400 and 500 acres and was zero percent contained as of Sunday afternoon, according to Polk County Emergency Management.
Evacuations were ordered on Saturday and remained in place on Sunday in Tryon, which has a population of about 1,500.
According to Saluda Fire and Rescue, the fire was caused by a downed power line and quickly spread up a mountain, threatening several buildings.
Sunday 2 March 2025 23:00
,
Mike Bedigan
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order on Sunday declaring a state of emergency to support ongoing response to wildfires ravaging his state.
"This State of Emergency ensures that our first responders, who are working tirelessly and risking their lives to protect our communities from these wildfires, have the resources they need," McMaster said in a statement on X.
I have declared a State of Emergency to further support wildfire response efforts across the state and ensure our first responders continue to have the resources they need. A statewide outdoor burning ban remains in effect—violators will be prosecuted. Please stay informed.
— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) March 2, 2025
Shocking video from showed firefighters battling flames in the California Forest, S.C.
Sunday 2 March 2025 22:40
,
Mike Bedigan
Shocking video from showed firefighters battling flames in the California Forest area of South Carolina, as the fire neared houses in the area.
Firefighters tackle blazes in the Carolinas
Sunday 2 March 2025 22:19
,
Mike Bedigan
Firefighters have been battling over 150 blazes in North and South Carolina throughout the weekend, including an enormous fire near to Myrtle Beach that doubled in size overnight on Saturday.
The blaze near Carolina Forest, a community just west of the tourist spot in Horry County, stretched across 1,200 acres. As of Sunday afternoon it was zero percent contained, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
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