Forest fires are raging in several US states

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Sunday as wildfires in the Carolinas and Georgia scorched thousands of acres and forced people to flee their homes.

More than 175 fires were burning in South Carolina, the governor's office said earlier Sunday, fueled by unusually dry conditions and gusty winds.

By early Monday, that number was down to 163, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.