Texas Gov. Rick Perry is skipping a presidential forum in South Carolina tonight to return to his home state to deal with wildfires there, the governor's office told USA TODAY.
Perry had urged caution to Texans during the Labor Day weekend and re-issued an emergency disaster proclamation for all 254 counties. As of Thursday, wildfires in Texas have burned more than 3.5 million acres in Texas and destroyed more than 728 homes, according to the governor's office.
The National Weather Service warned that wildfires burning in central Texas could spread today because of dry brush, high winds and low humidity.
Six Republicans, including Perry, were slated to participate in the presidential forum sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint, a Tea Party favorite. DeMint, who endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2008 GOP presidential race, so far is withholding his support in this year's race.
Perry will head back to Texas after a town hall meeting in Conway, S.C. with U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, a freshman Republican who was elected to Congress in November with Tea Party support.
(Contributing: Susan Page)
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