Hurricane Helene aftermath fuels Carolina fires, prompting new warnings and evacuations

The Table Rock Fire in South Carolina, which was ignited by young hikers, nearly doubled in size Wednesday and spans more than 4,500 acres.

Another day of fire danger is forecast throughout the Carolinas as wildfires continue to rage fueled by wind, low humidity and a tinderbox of dry, downed timber left in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

North Carolina and South Carolina have both declared states of emergencies for multiple counties, as hundreds of residents have been evacuated and several structures destroyed.

Fire threats continued Thursday — but to a lesser degree than Wednesday, with no red flag warnings in place. However, humidity levels will be below 25% for much of the East Coast and there will still be wind, though lighter than yesterday, NBC meteorologist Dylan Dreyer forecast.

It's all-hands-on-deck in the mountainous parts of the states, and statewide burn bans are in effect.

In North Carolina, there are eight active wildfires in Caldwell, Buncombe, Polk, Jackson, Haywood and Swain counties, according to an interactive map by the North Carolina Forest Service.

New fires sparked in dry conditions Wednesday, prompting Gov. Josh Stein to declare another state of emergency “to make sure we have every tool at our disposal” to respond to fires in the western part of the state. 

The worst blazes are the Black Cove Complex Fire and the Deep Woods Fire, both in Polk County and Henderson County.

The Black Cove Complex fire stood at 3,053 acres and 17% contained, according to a Wednesday-evening update by the North Carolina Forest Service. This fire first ignited March 19 via a downed power line.

“The Black Cove Fire has continued to burn to the west, farther into Henderson County on both sides of the Green River. Firefighters continue protecting structures and attempting to prevent the fire from spreading toward homes off Summerhaven and Macedonia roads,” the N.C. Forest Service said.

The Deep Woods Fire is 3,231 acres and 11% contained. It was first reported March 19 and the cause remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, the Fish Hook Fire, also in Polk County, was 199 acres in size and 86% contained, as of Wednesday evening, with forward progression stopped.

In South Carolina, two major fires have burned more than 6,000 acres.

The Table Rock Fire near Table Rock State Park in Pickens County nearly doubled in size Wednesday, to 4,556 acres. Strong wind gusts led the southern front of the fire to breach containment lines yesterday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said.

The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office said March 21 that the fire was caused by “the negligent act of some hikers.”

“The young men that are responsible for the fire have been identified. The investigation is continuing by agents and detectives with the sheriff’s office as well as those with the South Carolina Forestry Commission, and the appropriate charges will be discussed and made at a later date,” Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said.

Meanwhile, the Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,553 acres Wednesday, expanding in eastern, western and southern directions and jumping U.S. Highway 276 to the west and Persimmon Ridge Road to the South.

No injuries have been reported in the blazes.

Yesterday, the commission called for the immediate evacuations of residents in Greenville and Pickens counties. 

“Never in my 52 years did I think would I be running from my home in a fire,” Wendy Clarke, who evacuated her home in the Caesar's Head area near the Persimmon Ridge Fire to a local shelter, told NBC News’ Marissa Parra. 

Extreme fire behavior — including low humidity and gusty winds — on Wednesday led to new evacuations and “a second straight day of rapid expansion,” the South Carolina Forestry Commission said.

The agency noted that dry, downed timber from Hurricane Helene, which hit in September, is a major threat for fire growth.

“The amount of downed debris and timber in the woods is almost indescribable,” Madeline Stewart, the South Carolina Forestry Commission Public Information Coordinator, said on NBC's "TODAY" show.

On Thursday, there's an elevated fire risk in Georgia, the Carolinas, as well as Washington, D.C., up to New York.

Meanwhile, Texas will see rain Thursday in a storm system that will slowly creep east. Parts of south Texas are under a flood threat, with slow-moving showers and storms. Tomorrow, east Texas and Louisiana will see downpours, and by Saturday the storms will rumble into Tennessee and Mississippi with widespread severe risk from Texas to Ohio.