News Summary
South Carolina faces significant challenges as a large wildfire in Carolina Forest expands to 2,059 acres and is only 30% contained. Emergency personnel continue to tackle this and multiple other fires across the state, which cumulatively have burned over 4,200 acres in the last week. A burn ban has been issued statewide due to escalating wildfire activity. Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency to mobilize resources for firefighting efforts, while aerial support is being utilized to combat the flames and protect nearby communities.
South Carolina is grappling with the effects of a significant wildfire that has expanded to 2,059 acres and is currently 30% contained. As firefighting efforts continue, first responders are actively working to control the blaze in the Carolina Forest area. The situation remains dynamic, with multiple active fires reported across the state.
As of Monday evening at 6:00 p.m., emergency personnel are still deployed in the Carolina Forest region, focusing on containment efforts. While no additional acres have been reported burned in neighboring Berkeley and Williamsburg counties, the wildfire season has escalated into a state of concern, due to other fires within the state. On Monday morning, eight wildfires were reported; however, all were either controlled or contained by that time. Over the past weekend, more than 100 wildfires were identified in South Carolina, with six still active as of Sunday morning.
The cumulative total of acres burned in South Carolina within the last week has reached over 4,200 acres, spread across 175 separate fires. The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) has issued a burn ban for the state in response to the widespread fire activity. Additionally, the Lewis Ocean Bay fire has been marked as contained on the SCFC wildfire map, providing some relief in the situation.
New developments include a fire in Orangeburg County, which has been upgraded to active status near Pooh Lane. Conversely, an active fire near Huger has been classified as controlled and is now 100% contained. Reports of wildfires in Clarendon County near Salem Road and Kershaw County near Oak Ridge Church Road have also emerged. SCFC officials confirmed the presence of both active and contained wildfires in several counties, including Charleston, Berkeley, Colleton, Pickens, and Horry as of 10:00 a.m. Sunday.
The Carolina Forest wildfire stands out as the largest active fire within both North and South Carolina, surpassing other reported fires in severity. In response to the rapid expansion of this fire, evacuations have been ordered for residents in multiple neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest area. In light of the emergency situation, Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency to facilitate more resources for firefighting efforts.
Firefighters are employing aerial support including planes and Black Hawk helicopters to drop water onto the flames in an effort to mitigate the wildfire’s spread. Meanwhile, ground crews have been tirelessly working to establish and reinforce control lines around the perimeter of the Carolina Forest fire, focusing on preventing further growth and protecting nearby communities.
Previous reports of active fires in McClellanville have been confirmed as out, with no active flames observed following extensive searches by emergency response teams. The ongoing efforts by fire crews and emergency management organizations highlight the critical nature of wildfire management in the face of changing weather conditions and environmental factors.
As firefighting efforts continue, authorities urge residents to stay informed about fire statuses and adhere to evacuation orders for their safety. The SCFC remains vigilant, providing updated maps that categorize fires as active, controlled, and contained, helping both responders and residents understand the current landscape of fire activity across South Carolina.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- AOL News: Carolina Fire Maps
- Wikipedia: Wildfire
- Post and Courier: Smoke from Canada Wildfires
- Google Search: South Carolina Wildfires
- NBC News: South Carolina’s Table Rock Fire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Wildfire
- AP News: South Carolina Wildfire
- Google News: Wildfires South Carolina
