You’re driving down I-26 or maybe cutting through the backroads of Horry County, and you see it. A thin, gray ribbon of smoke snaking up into the January sky. Your first thought is probably someone burning a pile of leaves in their backyard. Honestly? You’re usually right. But in South Carolina, that’s exactly how the big ones start.
Right now, as we sit in the middle of January 2026, the question of where are the sc wildfires isn't just about a single GPS coordinate. It’s about a state that is currently a tinderbox. We are officially in the teeth of the 2026 wildfire season, and it’s looking a bit dicey.
The Current Hotspots: Where the Smoke is Rising
If you’re looking for active flames right this second, the situation changes by the hour. Just a few days ago, on January 11th, the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) slapped a Red Flag Fire Alert on 33 counties. Basically, the middle and coastal parts of the state were told: "Put the matches down."
We just had a significant woods fire pop up in Clarendon County along Moses Dingle Road. It wasn't some massive "mega-fire" you see on the news in California, but it was big enough to mobilize local crews and remind everyone that dormant, brown grass burns like gasoline. Earlier this month, the Ridley Fire in Oconee County chewed through over 200 acres.
The "where" is usually the Lowcountry and the Midlands this time of year. Why? Because the wind whips off the Atlantic and across the sandhills, drying out everything in its path.
Why the Location of SC Wildfires is Shifting
You’ve probably heard meteorologists buzzing about La Niña. It’s back for the 2026 season, and it’s a total headache for fire crews. Historically, La Niña pushes the storm tracks north. That leaves South Carolina warm, dry, and windy.
Think about the math here. You have:
- Dead vegetation from last summer.
- Humidity dropping to 25% or lower.
- Wind gusts hitting 30 mph.
When those three things meet, a "controlled burn" in someone's backyard in Florence or Aiken can become a 50-acre forest fire in about twenty minutes. The SCFC recently noted that 98% of our wildfires are caused by us—humans. Usually, it's an escaped debris burn. Someone thinks the fire is out, they go inside for a sandwich, and the wind does the rest.
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The Ghost of Hurricane Helene
There is a specific "where" that experts are watching with real anxiety: the Upstate. Specifically Pickens and Oconee counties. Back in 2025, the Table Rock Complex fires burned over 10,000 acres.
The problem hasn't gone away. Governor Henry McMaster pointed out recently that the debris left behind by Hurricane Helene in late 2024 is still sitting there. It’s "heavy fuel"—downed trees and thick brush that haven't fully rotted. If a fire gets into that mess near Table Rock or the Blue Ridge mountains, it’s incredibly hard to put out. It’s basically a giant campfire that refuses to die.
How to Track Active Fires in Real-Time
If you’re worried about smoke near your house, don't just guess. The South Carolina Forestry Commission is actually pretty tech-savvy these days. They have a Live Wildfire Map (you can find it on the SCFC website) that shows active suppressions.
- Red dots usually mean active wildfires.
- Orange or Purple icons often indicate prescribed burns.
- KBDI Values: Keep an eye on this. It stands for the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. If your county is deep red on that map, the soil is bone-dry.
Wait, what's a prescribed burn? You'll see a lot of these right now in the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. On January 15th, 2026, foresters started intentional fires to clear out the "understory." It looks scary, but it’s actually preventing the next catastrophe. If you see smoke near Sumter or the coast, check the SCFC "Burn Notifications Map" first. It might be a planned fire.
What Most People Get Wrong About SC Fire Season
Most folks think July is the danger zone because it's hot. Wrong. In South Carolina, March is the busiest month. January is the "warm-up."
Right now, the humidity is the real killer. In the summer, the air is thick and wet. In January and February, the air is "thin." It sucks the moisture right out of the pine needles. If you're in a county under a Red Flag Alert—like many in the Pee Dee and Midlands recently were—even a cigarette flicked out a window can start a disaster.
Actionable Steps for South Carolinians
Don't be the person who starts the next headline. If you're living in the "where" of current fire risks, do this:
- Check the Alert Status: Before you burn that pile of yard waste, call 1-800-777-FIRE. If they tell you it’s a No-Burn day, listen.
- The "Bare Dirt" Rule: If you do burn, you need a firebreak. Not just a cleared patch, but a ring of actual bare dirt around your fire.
- Clear the "Defensible Space": If you live near the woods (which is basically everyone in SC), clear the pine needles off your roof and away from your porch.
- Watch the Wind: If the trees are swaying, don't even think about lighting a match.
The reality is that where are the sc wildfires depends entirely on the next 24 hours of weather and human choices. We are looking at an "above normal" fire potential through March 2026. Stay vigilant, keep your garden hose ready, and maybe wait for a rainy day to clean up the yard.