Wildfire continue to burn North and South Carolina, forcing people to flee

Firefighters are battling multiple wildfires in North and South Carolina, with rough terrain, strong winds, and dry conditions making containment efforts extremely difficult. The fires, which have already burned thousands of acres, are fueled by debris left behind by Hurricane Helene and an ongoing drought across the region.
North Carolina
The North Carolina forest service reported three active wildfires in Polk county, with two major blazes spanning between 1.7 square miles (4.4 square kilometers) and 1.9 square miles (4.9 square kilometers). Fires are also burning in Burke, Madison, and Stokes counties, with Stokes County bordering Virginia.
The three major wildfires: Black Cove, Deep Woods, and Fish Hook, continue to spread, forcing evacuations and threatening homes.

The Black Clove and Deep Woods fire have each destroyed one home and two structures, officials in Polk County said, quoted by NBC news.
Emergency measures and safety
At 8.20 pm on Saturday, the North Carolina department of public safety had issued mandatory evacuation orders for parts of the county, located 80 miles (129 kilometers) west of Charlotte. A shelter was also set up in Columbus, North Carolina.
Over 165 properties are under mandatory evacuation orders, particularly in areas near the Henderson County line. Local officials have issued voluntary evacuation notices for parts of Laurel Mountain View Road and Boulder View Road as the flames continue to advance.
Due to the escalating crisis, North Carolina has issued a statewide burn ban. The North Carolina division of air quality has also declared a “Code Red” air quality alert for Polk County, warning residents to avoid prolonged outdoor exposure. Rutherford county is under a “Code Orange” alert, signalling hazardous air conditions for sensitive groups.
Kim Callaway, a Polk county resident near one of the evacuation zones, described the tense situation, “We’ve already actually evacuated everything that we thought that was important.”
“And now we’re just staying at the house and trying to do what we can to get our house prepared if the firemen need to show up and hold the line,” Callaway further told WLOS-TV.
The fires were burning through timberlands in the Green River Gorge, spreading across steep and difficult terrain on both state-owned and private properties.
South Carolina
South Carolina is also struggling with dangerous wildfires, prompting governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency. Two fires in the mountainous region are proving difficult to control:

Both the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires were sparked by human activity. While no injuries had been reported and no structures were under immediate threat, voluntary evacuations remained in effect for around 100 homes.

Burning ban and safety measures

The state also obtained a FEMA grant to help cover the costs for additional fire crews, air tankers and other equipment, McMasters said on Monday, USA Today reported.
In a statement, the governor said, "The statewide burning ban remains in effect as wildfire risks remain high across the state.”
"Anyone who violates this ban can and will go to jail."
According to the New York Post, the fire that broke out on Sunday morning had spread to approximately 100 acres. The South Carolina National Guard reported that a National Guard air crew had joined efforts to contain the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville, South Carolina.
Why are these wildfires so intense?
According to Robert Scheller, a forestry professor at North Carolina State University, the devastation left by Hurricane Helene last September has created perfect conditions for these fires.
“Helene just dropped tons of fuel on the ground,” he said, “Then these flash droughts allow that fuel to dry out very fast.”
This phenomenon was also observed in 2022, when the Bertha Swamp road fire burned 51 square miles of Florida’s timberland, following the path of Hurricane Michael.
The North Carolina department of agriculture and consumer services reported that at least 250 firefighters from across the region are battling the flames. The combination of fallen trees, steep terrain, and dry weather is making their job significantly harder.
Long road ahead
With no significant rainfall in the forecast and high winds continuing to fan the flames, officials warn that the fire season could last for weeks. Residents in affected areas are urged to stay alert, follow evacuation orders, and take precautions against smoke inhalation.