Wildfires in North Carolina, South Carolina set thousands of acres ablaze: See map
Thousands of acres are still ablaze as the National Weather Service predicts increased fire weather to continue throughout the week.
Wildfires returned to the Carolinas, and fires have taken over 10,000 acres and prompted another state of emergency, burn bans and evacuations.
In the Carolinas, wildfires have set 11,314 acres ablaze, and two of the biggest fires in North Carolina are responsible for at least half of that.
Both South Carolina and North Carolina have issued burn bans to help mitigate future flames, according to media advisories.
However, increased fire danger will be in effect on Tuesday from 12 p.m. local time to later in the evening, according to the Greenville-Spartanburg South Carolina National Weather Service, NWS.
The warning will then continue throughout the week.
"The combination of low relative humidity and drier fuels will increase fire danger Wednesday through Saturday," NWS stated.
On Saturday, March 22, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency due to the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County, around 119 miles southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to a press release published by the governor's office.
"As this wildfire continues to spread, the State of Emergency allows us to mobilize resources quickly and ensure our firefighters have the support they need to protect lives and property," McMaster said in a statement. "Given the elevated risk of wildfires throughout the state, the statewide burning ban will remain in effect until further notice. Anyone who violates this ban can and will go to jail."
Wildfire map: See location of fires in North Carolina, South Carolina
Largest fires in North and South Carolina
The largest fire in South Carolina is in Horry County, around 276 miles southeast of Table Rock, according to Paste BN's data. The fire has set 2,059 acres ablaze and is 80% contained. The cause of the fire is unknown.
The two largest fires in North Carolina are known as the Black Cove fire, 2,813 acres, and the Deep Woods fire, 2,742 acres.
As of Tuesday morning, the fires have set a total 5,555 acres ablaze in Polk County, around 85 miles west of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
Both fires started on March 19, and are 0% contained.
How many fires are in North and South Carolina?
As of Tuesday morning, South Carolina lists 24 wildfires that burn across 4,478.5 acres, according to the South Carolina's Forestry Commission.
North Carolina, lists 91 fires that span across over 6,836.3 acres, according to the North Carolina Forest Service wildfire map.
Carolinas burn ban
Due to weather conditions, both states have placed a statewide ban on all outdoor burning, according to media advisories.
"In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal," wrote the North Carolina Forest Service in its media advisory.
Campfires are also not exempt from the ban.
"Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated risk of wildfire," the advisory stated. "The high winds and gusts that prompted the agency to issue a Red Flag Fire Alert yesterday are expected to persist across the state through the weekend."
US Wildfire map
Contributing: John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz Paste BN
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com