Carolina wildfires latest: One arrested and another cited with illegal burning as fire danger warning issued

Wildfires are threatening the southeastern U.S. this month, with fast-moving blazes ripping across the dry Carolinas and Georgia.

The fires come on the heels of an active fall season, with firefighting efforts extending into late November in the Northeast.

The later fires are an ominous omen of the warmer future to come, with wildfire seasons becoming longer and more severe.

Are more wildfires popping up along the East Coast now? Researchers have said there are — but it’s complicated, reports Julia Musto.

Firefighters battled over 170 blazes across North and South Carolina over the weekend as dry conditions and strong winds fueled fast-moving wildfires, prompting evacuations and sending residents indoors.

In South Carolina, more than 175 fires have torn across the state, forcing Governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency on Sunday.

The order aimed to bolster wildfire response efforts and ensure adequate resources for firefighters. A statewide burning ban also remained in effect on Tuesday.

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Fire crews in Western North Carolina have contained nearly all of a large wildfire in Polk County, with local teams set to take over monitoring efforts, authorities have said.

The North Carolina Forest Service confirmed on 4 March that the wildfire, which has spread across 619 acres (2.5 sq km), is now 91 per cent contained. Local crews will assume responsibility from 5 March, the agency said.

“A local county ranger will be in the area patrolling the fire over the next 2-3 days to maintain and monitor it,” said Mr Jeremy Waldrop, a public information officer for the North Carolina Forest Service.

Weather forecasts have warned of high winds from the evening of 4 March through the afternoon of 5 March, with sustained speeds of 35-45 mph and gusts reaching up to 70 mph at elevations above 3,500 feet. By comparison, a Category 1 hurricane carries winds of 74-95 mph.

The United States Forest Service has cautioned that strong winds combined with dry conditions will elevate the risk of wildfires across Western North Carolina.

“We’re going to ask folks to delay burning,” said Mr Waldrop.

“It’s not really something that’s imperative that you need to be doing right now. If they feel the absolute need, don’t do it. Just contact your fire department.”

Fire crews in Myrtle Beach have been working non-stop for four days to contain wildfires that erupted over the weekend and spread rapidly across South Carolina.

Hundreds of firefighters from at least 33 departments across the state, including many from the Midlands, have been deployed to Horry County to bring the flames under control.

Residents have described the fear and disruption caused by the fires, with many taking precautions to protect themselves and their homes.

“Seeing smoke in the back of the reserve and driving back there, I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life,” Tiffany Baccari, whose home sits on the edge of a burning forested area, told NBC affiliate WIS10. She said smoke had filled her house, making it difficult for her and her children to breathe.

“They will be going to the paediatrician as soon as this is over and getting their lungs checked,” Ms Baccari added.Another resident, watching the emergency response from her patio, expressed concern about the health risks for young children.

“I am honestly not worried about my house, I’m worried about my son, who is one and a half, almost two, whose lungs are still growing,” she said.

Many locals have been taking their own measures, such as watering down their properties, to prevent the fire from spreading.

Mike Able, a resident who witnessed the fast-moving flames firsthand, said his backyard was consumed by fire while he was away on Saturday afternoon.“Horry County Fire Rescue saved my house.

My neighbour has a security camera over here that showed these guys fighting the fire—my fence was already melted, I mean, you can see in the grass it was already burning up to the house, then it melted the side of the house,” Mr Able told the outlet.

Despite the frightening experience, he said he was grateful that his home was still standing.

Authorities in South Carolina have arrested one person and cited another with illegal burning as firefighters continue to battle the Carolina Forest wildfire.

However, officials have not confirmed whether these incidents contributed to the blaze.

“There’s been one citation issued for an individual who was burning outside this location, and one is now resting probably somewhat comfortably at J Reuben Long for the same thing,” Horry County emergency management director Randy Webster told a council meeting on Tuesday, reported CBS affiliate WBTW.

He stressed the importance of preventing unnecessary strain on emergency services. “It is serious, and we’re taking it serious. We do not need to tax our resources unnecessarily,” he added.

County spokesperson Mikayla Moskov clarified that the illegal burns took place in Conway and the northern part of the county but were unrelated to the 2,059 acre (8.33 sq km) Covington Drive wildfire, the largest in the state.

South Carolina has been under a statewide burn ban since 1 March, following nearly 200 wildfires. Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday, indefinitely extending the restriction.

A powerful storm is sweeping across the United States, bringing blizzards, wildfires, and the threat of tornadoes to multiple regions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that parts of Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and New Mexico face a heightened risk of wildfires due to warm, dry conditions, reported NPR.

Meanwhile, areas with high humidity are bracing for severe thunderstorms, hail, and potential tornadoes through Wednesday, with Louisiana, Arkansas, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida among those at risk.

Heavy snowfall is forecast in the western US, with the Sierra and Rocky Mountain ranges expected to receive up to two feet of snow. The NWS has also issued blizzard warnings for Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota, predicting six to 12 inches of snow from Iowa to upper Michigan.

In contrast, unseasonably warm temperatures are expected in the Midwest, with the warmth likely to extend further east by Wednesday. Authorities are closely monitoring the evolving weather patterns as the storm continues to move across the country.

Smoke drifting from wildfires in North Carolina and South Carolina shrouded the Triangle region in haze on Tuesday, carrying a faint smell of burning.

Despite the altered skies, residents continued their outdoor routines along Durham’s American Tobacco Trail, jogging and walking dogs as usual. Health experts have advised that such activities remain safe under current air quality conditions but urged people to stay informed about any changes.

Dr David Beuther, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health, told ABC11 that while the scent of smoke is noticeable, it does not pose significant health risks for most individuals unless air quality deteriorates further.

However, he warned that those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart conditions should be particularly cautious."When the air quality gets bad, generally, we want people with these conditions in the very young and the very old to stay inside," Dr Beuther said.

"That means windows closed, you know, either central air circulating or air conditioning. Or if it's warm, the idea is to keep those windows and doors closed and to keep that particulate pollution out. And if you have to go outside, limit that to a short duration."

Authorities are monitoring air conditions closely as smoke from the wildfires continues to drift across the region.