State of emergency declared in both Carolinas due to wildfires

Two East Coast states, North Carolina and South Carolina, issued evacuation orders and declared states of emergency on Sunday due to wildfires that broke out over the weekend and continue to spread in the region.

In North Carolina, the Department of Public Safety issued evacuation orders for parts of Polk County in the western part of the state. Firefighters continue to battle three active fires in the area, and as of now, the number of people affected has not been confirmed.

The evacuation order for the area included a warning to the public, along with the availability of shelters for those displaced. "Visibility in the area will be reduced, and evacuation routes may be blocked; if you don't leave now, you could be trapped, injured, or killed," the Department posted on X.

Similarly, in South Carolina, the Forestry Commission reported that at least 100 residences have been evacuated and urged the public to stay informed through media updates on the situation.

"South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters - in Table Rock, Pickens - are scheduled to conduct operations there, focusing on strengthening fire breaks, clearing hazardous logs and igniting control lines," the state National Guard said on X.

Outdoor burning ban "remains in effect"

The states posted that the outdoor burn ban remains in effect, in part due to the deployment of firefighters from across the state to fight "large-scale fires in the mountains."

The social media post states that "This leaves other areas of the state with fewer first responders available. The burn bans help us focus our resources on the hardest-hit communities and reduce the number of new fires in other areas." 

"The statewide burn ban remains in effect. Those who violate it may face jail time," warned the executive order shared by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on social media.

More danger: red air quality alert 

Polk County spokeswoman Kellie Cannon warned that the Black Cove and Deep Woods fires "are close to joining and are only separated by a road." A red air quality alert was also issued in the county "due to heavy smoke density," according to The New York Times.

In South Carolina, Governor McMaster declared a state of emergency on Saturday "to ensure that firefighters have the resources they need to fight the Table Rock Fire," which began Friday in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pickens County.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission reported on X that the Table Rock Fire has surpassed 300 acres and continues to spread.

"The steep terrain makes it difficult to access with heavy equipment, which is normally used to establish containment lines. In addition, spot fires continue to cause new ignitions outside the original area," it explained.

The situation is further complicated by the presence of trees toppled by Hurricane Helene in September, which have added to the amount of flammable material on the mountain.