By Amy Graff and Simon J. Levien
Brush fires fueled by gusty winds and dry conditions broke out Saturday in North and South Carolina, prompting authorities to order evacuations in several communities.
The fires ignited while a large portion of the southeastern United States was under a red flag warning, an alert from the National Weather Service indicating a high risk of fires. Most of those warnings expired late Saturday night, and the fire risk was expected to decrease overnight as winds eased.
On Saturday afternoon, a brush fire in the mountains was threatening Tryon and Saluda, small communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains, about 40 miles south of Asheville, North Carolina.
Polk County officials said multiple fire departments were responding to a blaze threatening Meadowlark Drive in Tryon, which was evacuated. Tryon’s population is about 1,500, and Saluda’s less than 1,000.
The county said on social media that the Tryon brush fire was spreading rapidly.
A brush fire along the South Carolina coast was threatening Carolina Forest, South Carolina, just west of Myrtle Beach. That fire was 75% contained as of early Saturday night, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
“Crews are continuing to work toward the containment of this fire,” Horry County Fire Rescue, which is leading efforts to fight the fire, said on social media Saturday evening. Several neighborhoods in Carolina Forest were under an evacuation order.
Another fire broke out near Six Mile, South Carolina, a rural town about 30 miles west of Greenville. County officials there had recommended evacuations along several streets but, as of Saturday evening, no evacuations had been ordered.
Gusty winds, dry air and afternoon high temperatures in the low 70s helped fuel the rapid spread of the fires.
Another factor: South Carolina had unusually low rainfall in February, and the vegetation is dry. For instance, Myrtle Beach has recorded 2.30 inches of rain since Jan. 1, compared with 6.30 inches of rain that is considered normal for this time of year. North Carolina was a bit wetter last month, though it also received below-average rainfall.
It's alarming to see wildfires spreading in the Carolinas, especially with the combination of dry conditions and strong winds. Communities are facing serious threats, and it's crucial for everyone to stay informed and prepared. On a lighter note, the unpredictability of nature sometimes reminds me of the challenges in Geometry Dash—navigating obstacles requires quick thinking and adaptability!