Wildfires erupted across South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina on March 2, scorching thousands of acres and forcing many to flee their homes. At one point, more than 175 fires were burning in South Carolina alone.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency on March 2 as thousands were forced to flee their homes. The fires were a result of unusually dry conditions and gusty winds.
“I don’t think many people are aware of [those fires],” said Rachel Fernandez ’28, who lives in southern California. “I think [Los Angeles] definitely,” she added, referencing the Los Angeles (LA) fires that began on Jan. 7.
Merry Wang ’28, who lives in Fayetteville, N.C., wrote to The Daily that she “didn’t even know there were fires in North Carolina.”
The wildfires that broke out in L.A. in January received significant national attention, leading President Donald Trump to travel to the region to survey the destruction. The majority of the damage stemmed from two fires: the Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades, which swept through neighborhoods destroying thousands of homes. The fires burned through over 40,000 acres of land.
On campus, students rallied in support of the relief efforts. StanfordCaresForLA, a student-run initiative, has raised $5,015 as of Wednesday.
Fernandez highlighted that people asked “if [her] family was okay” when she introduced herself as being from the Los Angeles area. She noted that many faculty members provided space and acknowledged the fires in class, making her feel more at ease.
“The [L.A. fires] were also different from the usual fires we have in California,” Ariel Arriero ’28 said. “They usually don’t go that fast, or burn down neighborhoods.”
Despite the lack of national attention toward the South Carolina fires, they pose significant health risks to those living through them.
“Nearby community members face immediate risks such as burns and injuries during evacuations. Communities downwind are also at risk from inhaling smoke, ash, and debris,” Jessica Yu, a research scientist in the Climate and Energy Program Policy Program, wrote in an email to The Daily.
The Bay Area also faces significant risk of wildfires. Although wildfires haven’t directly impacted the region since 2021, Yu warns of the threat that Stanford should be wary of.
“The recent urban fires should signal to Bay Area residents the reality of wildfire risks and associated health impact,” Yu wrote. “Importantly, regularly assessing and updating wildfire management and evacuation plans will ensure that we learn from the lessons of recent fires.”