(VitalNews.org) – Devastating wildfires are forcing American families to flee their homes across the Carolinas as first responders try to battle nature with limited resources.
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Hundreds of acres of land have been set ablaze while agencies struggle to contain multiple fires amid dry, windy conditions that threaten communities.
In North Carolina’s Polk County, a fire has already consumed at least 400 acres with zero containment.
Sparked by a downed power line on US Highway 176, the blaze has forced officials to order evacuations for residents along the highway between the small towns of Tryon and Saluda, located about 40 miles south of Asheville.
Local fire departments joined forces with the North Carolina Forest Service to battle the flames.
Meanwhile, emergency shelters have been established to house displaced families who had to flee with little warning as the fire quickly advanced.
The situation in South Carolina appears even more dire. Governor Henry McMaster highlighted the serious danger as brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect lives and property from nature’s fury.
“Our first responders and firefighters are risking their lives to contain many fires across South Carolina tonight,” the governor said.
In Horry County, near the popular tourist destination of Myrtle Beach, residents in seven neighborhoods of Carolina Forest have been evacuated, including Spring Lake and Waterford.
The wildfire there has grown to cover an estimated 1,200 acres, forcing more than 50 people to seek shelter at a Red Cross facility at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission took the serious step of issuing a statewide burn ban after over 100 fires were reported across the state.
This governmental decree bans all outdoor burning until further notice, highlighting how severe the fire danger has become throughout the region.
Multiple fire agencies from across the Carolinas have answered the call to assist Horry County crews with the Carolina Forest wildfire, including departments from Williamsburg County, North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Dillon County.
State Representative Tim McGinnis of Myrtle Beach reported that “forestry officials told him Blackhawk helicopters are among the aircraft coming in” to battle the blaze.
The deployment of military-grade equipment underscores the serious threat these fires pose to communities and how quickly natural disasters can overwhelm local resources.
The National Weather Service had previously issued a red flag warning for the affected areas, which recently expired.
However, conditions remain dangerous due to what the Weather Service described as “dry fuel and low relative humidity,” creating perfect conditions for fires to spread rapidly and unpredictably.
Officials have provided no timeline for when the thousands of evacuated residents might be able to return to their homes.
As Horry County Fire Rescue stated, they are “monitoring the weather forecast and preparing to adjust course in our life safety and property protection plan should conditions evolve.”
The public has been advised to avoid the affected areas to keep roads clear for emergency responders.
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