SC forestry officials report 32 wildfires in 1 day. No ‘time to be complacent,’ they warn
South Carolina Forestry Commission officials reported a “dramatic uptick” in wildfires across the state Thursday.
Forestry officials reported 32 wildfires, most of which started along either side of the Interstate 95 corridor.
The news come as the state kicks off South Carolina’s wildfire season, which, like most of the southeast, runs from March to April. Wildfire season is when the Palmetto State typically documents its largest and most destructive fires, Forestry Commission Fire Chief Darryl Jones said.
Officials urged South Carolinians to be vigilant when burning anything outdoors. They added that recent low humidity levels, falling below 20% in most of the state, are likely a factor in the recent increase of wildfires.
“While we haven’t had a lot of wind, which usually contributes greatly to fast growing wildfires, much of the state is just in a long drying pattern,” Jones said in a statement. “When fuels are really dry, the heat released from outdoor burning can exacerbate the conditions that lead to fires escaping easily and spreading rapidly.”
Jones added that the recent spell of warm weather is also likely pushing people outdoors, where they could be burning debris from their yard. Prescribed burns for agriculture, timber and wildlife management are also in full swing, he said.
“It is definitely not a time to be complacent or inattentive when burning outdoors,” Jones said.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 7:04 AM with the headline "SC forestry officials report 32 wildfires in 1 day. No ‘time to be complacent,’ they warn."
