Wildfires rage across the Carolinas; SC governor issues state of emergency

Multiple wildfires raged across North and South Carolina on Sunday, prompting officials to order evacuations and open emergency shelters amid dry conditions and gusty winds along much of the Eastern Seaboard.

In South Carolina, a brush fire was rapidly expanding in Carolina Forest, a community near Myrtle Beach, forcing residents in at least a half dozen neighborhoods to flee their homes. The wildfire had scorched about 1,200 acres of land as of 10 a.m. Sunday, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Dramatic videos show the inferno nearing homes as flames whipped furiously, sending stacks of smoke into the air. Officials said no structures have been destroyed and no injuries have been reported.

"All residents of Carolina Forest should continue to monitor the forecast, register to receive Code Red emergency alerts and be prepared with a 'go-bag' and emergency plan if an evacuation is called in their neighborhood," Horry County Fire Rescue said in a statement.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency Sunday to unlock funds and resources for the ongoing response effort. A statewide ban on outdoor fires remains in effect, he said.

"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.

North Carolina wildfire threatens 2 mountain communities

In North Carolina, a wildfire burning in the Blue Ridge mountains was threatening the communities of Saluda and Tryon, which are located near the South Carolina border.

The so-called Melrose Fire burned 400 to 500 acres of land as of Sunday morning and remained uncontained, according to the state's forest service. Polk County Emergency Management said no additional evacuations were issued Sunday but warned there "will be a lot of fire activity today."

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The fire department in Saluda said in a statement on Facebook that the fire appeared to have been started "by a downed power line."

Over 175 wildfires burning across South Carolina

The Office of the South Carolina State Fire Marshal said there are ongoing response operations to more than 175 wildfires across the state.

The office said the blazes have burned more than 4,200 acres including in Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union and Pickens counties.

"While a majority of the current wildfire activity is concentrated in the Pee Dee region, the rest of the state is experiencing a dramatic uptick in wildfires, straining the capacity of Forestry Commission firefighters and local emergency response personnel to respond," said Darryl Jones, forest protection chief for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, in a statement.

Has Myrtle Beach been impacted by the wildfires?

Myrtle Beach, a coastal city home to nearly 40,000 people, has not had any damage from the large blaze spreading in eastern South Carolina, though it's close enough to see the smoke.

The blaze has scorched over 1,200 acres in Carolina Forest, a community just west of Myrtle Beach, where residents in several neighborhoods fled their homes.

The Myrtle Beach Fore Department is one of more than 30 agencies helping Horry County Fire Rescue battle the blaze.

Much of eastern US under increased fire risk

The National Weather Service issued advisories on Sunday from Georgia to New Jersey warning of an increased risk of wildfires.

"The combination of dry fuels & low relative humidity continues to raise concerns for dangerous fire behavior on Sunday," the weather service office in Columbia, South Carolina. "While winds will be lighter, the dry conditions are forecast to continue being a problem."

In the Mid-Atlantic region, winds remained a problem.

"Minimum relative humidity values will be near 20% combined with northwest winds near 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph," said the weather service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. "These conditions could support the rapid spread of any fires that ignite, which could quickly become difficult to control."