Wildfires continue to scorch Carolinas, burning homes and forcing evacuations

Crews in the Carolinas are continuing to battle major wildfires that have scorched hundreds of acres, forced evacuations and destroyed homes.

The Table Rock fire, which ignited Friday, has grown to more than 1,300 acres with no containment, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said in an update on X Sunday night

Tractor crews and hand crews were constructing fire lines to contain the inferno, Pickens County said in an update on its website. Debris left behind by Hurricane Helene was hindering access to some areas.

Another large wildfire is burning near Persimmon Ridge in Greenville County, South Carolina. The fire started Saturday and has grown to more than 800 acres with no containment, the commission said.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Saturday. There have been no reports of injuries in the fires, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said.

At least six aircraft will be deployed Monday for water-dropping missions to both infernos.

Other fires broke out in rural parts of Polk County, North Carolina. The Black Cove and Deep Woods fires are at zero percent containment and have scorched over a thousand acres, according to a news release on Sunday. The fires have each destroyed one home and two structures.

The Fish Hook fire was 50% contained and grew to nearly 200 acres, the release stated. Three homes have been destroyed.

Strong winds, low humidity and moderate to long-term drought conditions across the region are fueling the fires. A cold front on Monday could bring some gusty winds that could aggravate the fires.

Other parts of the country will be hit with severe weather. In southeast Louisiana, a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect. Strong thunderstorms will be possible throughout Monday along the I-10 corridor through northern Florida.

The Great Lakes to New England will see a wintry weather mix on Monday. Five million people are under winter alerts for snow.

This weekend, parts of the Midwest, Ohio Valley, the Southeast, and the Gulf Coast could see significant and widespread severe weather.