FIRST ALERT issued for high fire danger across the CSRA
AUGUSTA, Ga. - Weather conditions have raised the fire danger across the region, leading to a News 12 FIRST ALERT covering both sides of the Savannah River – and the danger will linger through the weekend.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a burning ban for all counties in the Palmetto State, effective at 6 p.m.
There will be a red flag fire warning on Saturday, issued by the National Weather Service.
The News 12 weather team issued a FIRST ALERT due to the high fire danger.
Low relative humidity is the main culprit for the danger, according to hief Meteorologist Riley Hale.
Friday’s breezy conditions aren’t helping, but the humidity will remain low until an outlook for rain arrives Monday.
The Augusta Fire Department said the red flag warning means critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or are imminent. The mix of strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures makes outdoor fires extremely hazardous. The Augusta Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency said any fire that starts could spread rapidly, especially in dry, grassy areas.
Affected areas in our region include McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Aiken, Barnwell, Lincoln, Bamberg, McDuffie, Columbia, Richmond, Burke and parts of Orangeburg counties.
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Carolina Forest wildfire: Containment remains at 80%
- The South Carolina Forestry Commission says the Carolina Forest wildfire in Horry County remains at 80% contained and at 2,059 acres in size. Machines will work Friday along the southern perimeter of the fire, grinding hazardous greenery. Crews will also be watching the firelines and hot spots. The fire is smoldering in “pockets of underground peat soil,” the agency says.
That means there’s no outdoor burning, including fire pits and bonfires, no grilling, no mowing dry grass, no tossing cigarette butts from vehicles, and no unattended candles or open flames.
New stats show how truly bad Hurricane Helene was in the CSRA
Hurricane Helene hit the CSRA in the early morning hours of Friday, Sept. 27, bringing devastating impacts - including fatalities.
The South Carolina burn ban will stay in effect until further notice, which will come in the form of an official announcement from the Forestry Commission.
“The combination of gusty winds and low relative humidity is a recipe for wildfires igniting easily and spreading rapidly,” said commission Fire Chief Darryl Jones, “especially when you add to the mix the abundance of dry, late-winter fuels on the ground.”
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