As wildfires scorch South Carolina, Gov. McMaster declares a state of emergency

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency because of the ongoing wildfires across the Palmetto State.

The latest declaration follows a statewide burn ban that was issued Saturday by the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

The governor’s executive order said the burn ban will remain in effect until further notice. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris, prescribed burning and campfires.

The State Fire Marshal said more than 175 wildfires have burned 4,200 acres across the state as of noon Sunday. The wildfires are burning in Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union and Pickens counties primarily because of dry, windy conditions, according to the release. Dangerous conditions have been exacerbated by significant and shifting winds, which have caused numerous existing fires to spread and complicated the containment of new wildfires, the governor said in his executive order.

Other factors increasing the wildfire threat includes low humidity across the state coupled with drying fuels resulting from the lack of significant rain, as well as strong winds, according to the S.C. Forestry Commission.

“While a majority of the current wildfire activity is concentrated in the Pee Dee region, the rest of the state is experiencing a dramatic uptick in wildfires, straining the capacity of Forestry Commission firefighters and local emergency response personnel to respond,” S.C. Forestry Commission Forest Protection Chief Darryl Jones said in news release.

McMaster said that declaring a state of emergency “enhances ongoing emergency response efforts as firefighters work to contain the wildfires affecting various regions.”

“This State of Emergency ensures that our first responders, who are working tirelessly and risking their lives to protect our communities from these wildfires, have the resources they need,” McMaster said in the release. “Dangerous wildfire conditions require that a statewide burning ban remain in effect. ... Those who violate this ban will be subject to criminal prosecution.”

The state of emergency allows South Carolina to proactively prepare for the potential impacts and take timely precautions to protect and preserve property, critical infrastructure, natural resources, communities, and the general safety and welfare of the people of the state, according to the executive order.

No evacuations were ordered by the governor. The executive order leaves any decisions about closing schools, colleges and any government buildings up to county officials.

In past, declaring the state of emergency has allowed South Carolina to get federal emergency assistance, and it allows the National Guard to stage equipment and personnel and allows agencies to suspend any regulations that could hinder emergency operations.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said that the state’s law against price gouging is in effect since McMaster declared a state of emergency.

“We could see normal price increases, and those are not considered price gouging under our law,” Wilson said in a news release. “But we may see businesses and individuals looking to unfairly take advantage of the situation through price gouging of food, gasoline, lodging, and other commodities as defined by the statute. By our law, that’s a criminal violation and an unfair trade practice.”

South Carolina residents are encouraged to call 911 to report any immediate threats.

This story was originally published March 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM with the headline "As wildfires scorch South Carolina, Gov. McMaster declares a state of emergency."

Noah Feit

The State

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Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription