On Saturday, March 1, 2025, our CF community began a battle fighting various wildfires due to the dry weather and negligence to the statewide burn ban. After 14 days of fighting the Carolina Forest wildfires, officials say it is 65% contained. The wildfires have spread across 2,059 acres. So far all houses are still standing, but some have been damaged due to the heat and constant smoke.
Many neighborhoods along Carolina Forest Boulevard were told to evacuate. Although this was to keep people safe, it was still a very scary time for evacuees. Some stayed in the Carolina Forest Recreation Center, and others even stayed overnight in their cars because of overcrowding.
Sophomore Caroline Incorvia, an evacuee, shared, “ I was scared. When I got home, there were police officers all outside my house. They knocked on our door and said we had twenty minutes to get out of our house. I ripped clothes out of my closet and grabbed my valuables. We went to my grandma’s house to get away from the fires.”
Our first responders have been working around the clock to keep our people and community safe. Thus far, they have been doing an amazing job at keeping the fires out of reach from citizens.
Firefighters were not the only first responders on the scene. There were also ambulances, paramedics, and police officers.
Bryan Byrd, SVU Detective with HCPD, commented, ”Days leading up to when I got called in I thought it was a controlled burn by the Forestry Commission. Only later I was told that the fire was started by a person in the community who was burning yard debris. Other detectives and I were requested to assist in traffic-controlled checkpoints and door-to-door evacuation from various communities.”
Many people were very generous in gathering donations to give to the Fire Department. After a week of collecting goods, now they are all stocked up and no longer accepting donations.
The recent Wildfires have highlighted the resilience of our community. The collaboration between local authorities, firefighters, and residents has been commendable, but it also emphasizes the importance of preparedness and awareness in mitigating future risks.
Moving forward, as a community, we should prioritize sustainable practices to protect our environment and ensure the safety of our homes and loved ones.
The Prowler Staff would like to thank all of our first responders who have been working so hard to keep us all safe.
Photo Credits: Amy Cieslik/Ed Piotrowski WPDE Facebook; Chris Herath/Ed Piotrowski WPDE Facebook; Ed Piotrowksi
