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South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency as 175 wildfires torched more than 5,400 acres across the state over the weekend. By Monday (March 3), firefighters managed to get some of the wildfires under control, but there were still 163 active fires burning throughout the state, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said.
The largest wildfire is located about 10 miles west of Myrtle Beach. As of Sunday evening, it had burned 1,600 acres and was just 30% contained. The fire forced some people to evacuate, but they have since been allowed to return home. So far, there have been no reports of structures being damaged.
There were also several fires burning in North Carolina and Georgia. Officials in North Carolina said they were battling four active fires in each of the state's national forests.
In Georgia, firefighters are working to contain six fires throughout the state.
The fires were the result of warm, dry weather and gusty winds, which allowed the fires to spread quickly. However, the region is about to get some help as a cold front moves into the area, bringing much-needed rain, and cooler temperatures.