2025 Southeastern United States wildfires
 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2025) |
| Southeastern United States wildfires of 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | March 1, 2025 – ongoing (EDT) |
| Location | North Carolina South Carolina Georgia |
| Statistics | |
| Total fires | ≥175 |
| Burned area | At least 4,200 acres (1,700 ha) |
The 2025 Southeastern United States wildfires are a series of wildfires in the Southeastern United States in March 2025. Multiple wildfires spread across South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia amid dry conditions and strong winds, threatening residential areas and prompting widespread evacuations.[1] By March 2, at least 175 separate wildfires were reported, consuming over 4,200 acres.[2]
The fires began on March 1, 2025, and continued to spread rapidly, with several major blazes affecting communities in Horry County, Georgetown County, and Pickens County in South Carolina, as well as Polk County in North Carolina. State officials implemented emergency measures, including a statewide burning ban in South Carolina, as firefighters worked to contain the rapidly spreading fires.[1]
Background
[edit]The wildfires occurred during a period of hazardous fire weather across the southeastern United States. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings throughout much of South Carolina and North Carolina, indicating critical fire conditions due to wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph, extremely low humidity levels, and dry vegetation and ground conditions.[1][3]
Afternoon high temperatures in areas of the southeastern United States reached about 73 °F (23 °C) on March 1, creating warmer-than-average regional conditions that facilitated fire spread. Furthermore, South Carolina had experienced notably low rainfall during February 2025, leaving vegetation in an exceptionally dry state. Meteorological data indicated that Myrtle Beach recorded only 2.30 inches (58 mm) of rain since January 1, 2025, compared to the 6.30 inches (160 mm) that would be considered normal over that time period.[1]
Wildfires
[edit]South Carolina
[edit]Horry County
[edit]One of the most significant wildfires affected the Carolina Forest area near Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina. By the morning of March 2, 2025, this fire had consumed over 1,200 acres and remained completely uncontained. The blaze threatened the residential neighborhoods of Avalon, Spring Lake, Walker Woods, and Waterford, as well as homes within the Myrtle Beach city limits, necessitating evacuation orders for affected areas. Fire authorities reported that the rapid spread was fueled by wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph combined with extremely dry conditions.[3][4][2]
A separate wildfire erupted north of Carolina Forest, burning over than 300 acres by March 2. Fire officials reported that this blaze was also burning out of control with no containment achieved in the initial response phase.[3]
Georgetown County
[edit]Approximately 35 miles to the south of Myrtle Beach, a significant wildfire began on March 1 in Georgetown County, South Carolina. This fire threatened several homes in the town of Prince George, requiring evacuations. By the morning of March 2, the fire had spread to over 800 acres. The Prince George Fire reportedly occurred in the vicinity of the Arcadia Plantation, an area where firefighters had conducted a controlled burn earlier in the week.[3]
Greenville County
[edit]In northern Greenville County, South Carolina, a wildfire in Persimmon Ridge, near Caesar's Head, was first reported on March 23.[5] By March 28, the wildfire had spread to 1,992 acres, with 0% containment.[6] Evacuation orders were issued for affected areas.[7] By April 7, the wildfire had spread to 2,128 acres, with 99% containment.[8]
The Persimmon Ridge fire is part of the greater Table Rock Complex fire, along with the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County.[9] The total acreage of the Table Rock Complex fire, as of April 7, is 15,973 acres, with 97% containment.[10] Rainfall and calmer wind conditions have aided containment efforts.[11]
Pickens County
[edit]In Pickens County, South Carolina, a wildfire in the Six Mile Mountain area necessitated evacuations on March 2. Emergency responders quickly mobilized to prevent the fire from reaching residential structures. By March 2, the Six Mile Mountain Fire had burned nearly 300 acres but was reported to be 85% contained.[3]
A separate wildfire was reported in Table Rock State Park on March 22.[12] The Table Rock fire was reportedly human-caused, due to 'negligence' by hikers, potentially during a Red Flag Warning by the South Carolina Forestry Commission.[13][14][15] By March 26, the wildfire had spread to 4,556 acres, with 0% containment.[16] Additionally, some parts of the fire had spread across state lines into Transylvania County, North Carolina.[17] On March 29, the wildfire became the largest, single mountain fire in the history of South Carolina and the Upstate region of the state.[18][19] On March 30, the wildfire had spread to 10,894 acres in South Carolina and 574 acres in North Carolina.[20] As of April 7, The wildfire had an acreage of 13,210 and was reported to be 91% contained.[6][12][8]
The Table Rock fire is part of the greater Table Rock Complex fire, including the Table Rock fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge fire in Greenville County.[9] By March 28, the Table Rock Complex fire had a total area of 10,671 acres.[10] Additionally, mandatory evacuations orders for areas in Greenville and Pickens County were expanded as the fires continue to spread.[9][21] On March 31, the statewide burning ban was lifted for all counties except for the counties of Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg.[22] By April 7, the Table Rock Complex fire was 15,973 acres at 97% containment, with containment being aided by rainfall and calmer wind conditions.[11][8]
North Carolina
[edit]Polk County
[edit]Close to the North Carolina–South Carolina state border, a brush fire ignited in Polk County, North Carolina, at approximately 1:30 pm EST on March 1, 2025. Officials determined the cause to be a downed power line close to Highway 176. The fire spread rapidly and threatened the settlements of Saluda, Melrose, and Tryon. By 9:00 pm on March 1, the fire had spread to 400 acres with 0% containment.[3] As of 8:00 pm March 2, the fire had burned over 500 acres at 30% containment.[23]
Local authorities evacuated residents along Meadowlark Drive in Tryon as the fire advanced rapidly toward populated areas. Multiple fire departments were mobilized to combat the blaze.[1]
On March 19, the Black Cove Complex fire was reported in the Green River Gorge, approximately 2 mile north of Saluda, North Carolina. [24] The Black Cove Complex fires consisted of the Black Cove, Deep Woods and Fish Hook fires. As of April 2, 2025, the Black Cove fire is 97% contained at 3,502 acres, the Deep Woods fire is 63% contained at 3,979 acres and the Fish Hook fire is 100% contained at 199 acres. [25]
Georgia
[edit]Starting on March 1, The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) responded to 137 separate wildfires that collectively burned approximately 2,390 acres across the state. This sudden proliferation of fires occurred during a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service for much of Georgia due to a combination of low humidity and strong winds. Fire activity was prominent in Lumpkin County, near the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.[26]
On March 22, 2025, the Big Ridge fire started in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Rabun County, GA. As of April 3, 2025, the Big Ridge fire is 2,862 acres and 0% contained.[27]
Response
[edit]South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster ordered a statewide burning ban on March 1, emphasizing the severity of the situation by stating that violators would be jailed for starting an outdoor fire under any circumstance.[3][4] Travel advisories were issued for several regions, including the Carolina Forest area due to the presence of smoke significantly reducing visibility for motorists.[2] On March 31, the statewide burning ban was lifted for all counties except for Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties.[22]
Multiple agencies responded to the wildfires, including the South Carolina Forest Commission and several local fire departments across affected counties. Local law enforcement assisted with evacuating areas in danger of the wildfires.[3] Approximately 410 personnel and at least 128 fire apparatus were dedicated to firefighting operations across the state, including aircraft equipped to drop water on the fires.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Graff, Amy; Levien, Simon J. (2025-03-02). "Wildfires in the Carolinas Prompt Evacuations". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ a b c d "South Carolina governor declares state of emergency as raging wildfires prompt mass evacuations". NBC News. 2025-03-02. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Evacuations ordered as 175 wildfires erupt across South and North Carolina". ABC News. 2 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ a b Ochacher, Jared (2025-03-01). "Multiple wildfires erupt in the Carolinas, force evacuations - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ "Persimmon Ridge - Wildfire and Smoke Map". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ a b "fiResponse - Public Viewer". scfc.firesponse.com. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ Moore, Stephanie (2025-03-27). "Updates on Table Rock, Persimmon Ridge fires in South Carolina". WYFF. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b c "2025 Table Rock Complex Information". inciweb.wildfire.gov. 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ a b c Franco, Jose. "Live updates on wildfires at Table Rock State Park, Persimmon Ridge; evacuations ordered". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b "Table Rock Complex - Wildfire and Smoke Map". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ a b "Table Rock wildfire contained along southern edge, with 16K acres burned". Greenville Journal. 2025-04-01. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ a b "TABLE ROCK - Wildfire and Smoke Map". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Franco, Jose. "Live updates: SC Gov. McMaster to visit Table Rock, Friday's weather a concern for fires". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Moore, Stephanie (2025-03-27). "How did the wildfire at Table Rock State Park start? Here's what we know". WYFF. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ "SC Forestry Commission issuing statewide burning ban" (PDF). South Carolina Forestry Commission. 2025-03-21. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ Franco, Jose. "Live updates on wildfires at Table Rock, Persimmon Ridge; crews work to contain fire spread". The Greenville News. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ Haseloff, Nick (2025-03-27). "Fire marshal: Fire has entered the county". The Transylvania Times. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
- ^ O'Donnell, Kelci (2025-04-04). "Table Rock Complex fire confirmed largest SC firefighter mobilization effort". WSPA-TV. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ Laird, Skylar (2025-03-31). "Rain helps slow Upstate wildfires, as some evacuations shift to voluntary". South Carolina Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ "Table Rock Complex Daily Update 03-30-2025". inciweb.wildfire.gov. 2025-03-30. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ McCreless, Patrick (2025-03-26). "SC wildfires in Greenville, Pickens grow bigger than ever. How large and what to expect next". The State. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
- ^ a b "Statewide burning ban to be lifted Monday for 41 counties" (PDF). South Carolina Forestry Commission. 2025-03-30. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Rainey, Zach (2025-03-03). "Evacuations remain in effect; 30% contained in Tryon fire". WYFF. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ^ "Morning Update on Black Cove Complex Fires in Polk & Henderson Counties". MORNING AgClips. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Daily update on the Black Cove Complex in Polk and Henderson counties". North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ "Georgia Forestry Commission responded to 137 wildfires across almost 2,400 acres Saturday". 11Alive.com. 2025-03-02. Retrieved 2025-03-02.
- ^ "Big Ridge Fire Update". WNEG Radio. Retrieved 3 April 2025.