Firefighters in the Carolinas made gains against blazes that erupted over the weekend as weather officials on Monday warned of “extremely critical fire conditions” in the central U.S.

Over 175 wind-fueled brush fires broke out in the Carolinas beginning Saturday, burning over 6.5 square miles and prompting multiple communities to evacuate residents and open emergency shelters. By Sunday night, fire officials announced they had gained momentum in extinguishing the blazes as winds slowed.

The largest of the blazes, the Covington Lane Fire, torched 1,600 acres in Carolina Forest, South Carolina, a small community west of Myrtle Beach. The fire department in Horry County announced Sunday that residents who were evacuated in over a half dozen neighborhoods were being allowed back into their homes. The fire was 30% contained as of Sunday night.

An evacuation order was still in place in Polk County, North Carolina, where firefighters were establishing containment lines around a 500-acre blaze that burned near the South Carolina border, about 40 miles southeast of Asheville. Polk County Emergency Management said the fire was 30% contained and the “decision to lift the evacuation order will be made tomorrow after back burn operations are complete.”

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency to unlock funds and resources for the wildfire response and recovery effort. A statewide ban on outdoor burning remains in effect.

More:Wildfires rage across the Carolinas; South Carolina governor issues state of emergency

Flag flag warnings active across central US

As fire officials grappled with the remaining blazes in the Carolinas, forecasters warned about high winds, low humidity and dry conditions that could quickly spread wildfires throughout the southern Plains, including southeastern Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas and Kansas.

The National Weather Service said wind gusts could reach up to 60 mph in Texas, where some areas in the south are seeing dryness more comparable to the summer’s peak fire season than early March. Winds of 20 to 40 mph were expected across much of the region.

“Wildfire risk is very much present on Monday and again on Tuesday though winds will be a bit lighter,” the weather service office in El Paso said. “Strong winds expected again next Thursday/Friday will additional fire headlines possible.”

Wildfire smoke near Myrtle Beach causes ‘difficult travel conditions’

The Horry County Fire Rescue said in a statement Monday that the wildfire burning in Carolina Forest is producing a “heavy, low-hanging smoke” that’s blanketing the area.

“This will limit some visibility for motorists and residents,” the department said in a statement, urging people not to drive near the fire because of low visibility and ongoing firefighting efforts.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington also warned about the heavy smoke, writing, “Smoke will lead to slow and difficult travel in the Myrtle Beach area this morning. Slow down and allow plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you!”

How to stay safe from wildfire smoke

Anyone in areas where smoke is visible or it can be smelled in the air should limit their time outdoors. Avoid any physical exertion, including indoors, officials said.

Even in areas where you can’t see or smell smoke, those at high risk should stay inside. That includes children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with underlying conditions such as asthma or heart and lung conditions.

While inside, keep windows and doors shut to prevent smoky air from getting inside, and use HEPA air purifiers to improve indoor air quality. Only run air conditioning if it does not draw in air from outdoors. Make sure you check and replace filters if needed; MERV 13 and higher filters are recommended for smoke.

If you must go outside, you should wear a high-quality, well-fitting N95 or P100 respirator mask to protect yourself. Do not do strenuous physical activity while outdoors and keep time outside short.

– Jeanine Santucci

Wildfire smoke safety tips:How to keep you, your family and beloved pets safe

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