Photo courtesy of the South Carolina Forestry Commission
Following multiple wildfires in the Carolinas over the weekend, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins plans to visit the affected areas on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Monday.
Crews fought several forest fires in North Carolina, the largest of which was at Uwharrie National Forest at around 400 acres, according to Newsweek. Located primarily in Montgomery County in the south central portion of the state, Uwharrie is the smallest of North Carolina’s four national forests.
The U.S. Forest Service responded to wildfires in the state’s other three national forests as well: Pisgah in the Appalachian Mountains, Croatan on the Atlantic Coast, and Nantahala in southwestern North Carolina.
Officials say significant debris from Hurricane Helene has made much of western North Carolina vulnerable to more wildfires this spring, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. Specific causes of each fire have yet to be announced.
“The brave men and women of the U.S. Forest Service began responding immediately to the fires in the Carolinas,” Rollins said in a statement. “We will ensure they have the resources, personnel, and support they need to swiftly put out the fires. They are working closely with state and local partners, and we are grateful for all the firefighters working on the frontlines.”
Specific details of the trip have yet to be released. It’s contingent on conditions permitting.
The Trump administration recently terminated the careers of thousands of U.S. Forest Service employees as part of the federal worker layoffs last month to cut costs. As a result, fewer people and less resources are available to help prevent and fight wildfires, according to the Associated Press.
It’s a move that comes after deadly fires in the Los Angeles area at the start of the year. President Donald Trump’s first trip after returning to the White House was to storm-damaged areas in western North Carolina as well as torched parts of California, NC Newsline previously reported.
Some of the approximately 3,400 workers who received termination notices have had their firings rescinded, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times. It’s unclear exactly how many.
The U.S. Forest Service maintains more than 1 million acres of forest land in the Tar Heel State.
North Carolina Emergency Management asked residents to avoid starting outdoor fires in a Sunday post on social media.
“We aren’t out of the woods yet NC. Do you[r] part. Do not burn today,” the post read. “We will see lighter winds today, but it is still very dry, with breezy conditions, and low relative humidity, which is what fire loves. High fire danger still exists across the state.”
In neighboring South Carolina, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on Sunday as the fires scorched thousands of acres and forced people to evacuate.
There were 175 wildfires impacting 4,200 acres across South Carolina as of Sunday, according to the McMaster’s office.
“With rain expected midweek, conditions may improve. However, the U.S. Forest Service is fully prepared for an active fire season in the south and will continue to work closely with our partners to respond effectively,” the agency said in a statement.