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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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Fire weather persists in North Carolina and South Carolina on Monday, spurring concerns that more fires could ignite or those burning could spread further.
Newsweek reached out to the North Carolina Forest Service by email for comment.
Why It Matters
More than 175 fires were burning in South Carolina on Sunday, prompting Governor Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency. Since then, nearly all of the fires have been 100 percent contained, according to a map from the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC). The fire burning in Horry County near Myrtle Beach, however, remains active.
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Many of the fires that ignited in North Carolina also have been brought under control, but National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists warned that weather conditions will remain favorable to wildfire spread throughout Monday.
What to Know
The biggest contributing weather factors creating an environment ideal for rapid fire spread on Monday were low humidity and the presence of dry fuels.
A separate map also revealed the extent of drought across the Carolinas.
Although drought conditions don't guarantee a fire's path, they can indicate which areas are vulnerable to wildfires. Animated weather footage from windy.com shows that in the Carolinas, drought is most severe in northwestern and northeastern South Carolina.
In North Carolina, the drought is most severe in the western part of the state, near Asheville.
North Carolina Wildfires
According to a map from the North Carolina Forestry Service (NCFS), there are active fires burning throughout the state, depicted in red. The fires burning near the most severe drought conditions are in Polk County, on the western side of the state, and in Columbus County, in the southeastern part of the state. The Columbus County fire falls in the area with the highest potential for fire spread in North Carolina, though the risk is still low, according to the windy.com footage.
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South Carolina Wildfires
Most wildfires burning in South Carolina have been contained, but several still remain active as of Monday at noon.
The most serious fire is in Horry County in the northeastern part of the state, near Myrtle Beach. As of the most recent update, it is 1,600 acres in size and 30 percent contained. The area where the fire is burning is in severe drought.
What People Are Saying
SCFC Director of Communications Doug Wood told Newsweek when addressing the 1,600-acre fire in Horry County: "It's not uncommon for a fire of this size to take many days to suppress. The spread depends completely on the direction of the winds. Embers can travel up to a mile, so it's entirely possible the fire can jump the lines."
He added**:** "Winds and gusts have dropped dramatically since Saturday."
What Happens Next
The special weather statements warning of increased fire danger will remain in place through Monday evening across both states. Meteorologists and state officials warned people against outdoor burning during the conditions.
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