Firefighters concerned about winds picking up Tuesday as South Carolina wildfire grows to more than 2,000 acres

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A massive wildfire in South Carolina is burning for a fourth straight day, with resources flooding to Horry County to slow down the spread.

As of the last update, the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) said the fire is now 2,059 acres in size and 30% contained. It’s important to remember that contained does not mean extinguished; it means firefighters have created a barrier around 30% of the fire to prevent it from spreading.

Hundreds of firefighters from across the state managed to keep the massive blaze in Horry County near Myrtle Beach from destroying any homes despite social media videos of orange skies at night and flames engulfing pine trees just yards away.

As of Monday, the fire has burned 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers). It was the biggest fire in the area since 2009, when a wildfire nearby caused $42 million in damage and burned down about 75 homes.

Smoky conditions will continue Tuesday morning, especially with a southeast wind pushing the worst of the smoke toward Highway 501.

The wind is also expected to pick up Tuesday, with WMBF News reporting gusts of 20-25 mph are expected in the afternoon. These winds could provide challenges to first responders working to control hot spots.

The SCFC said on Monday that there was worry about those winds picking up. While rain in the forecast later this week could help, it could also create other safety concerns.

The Forestry Commission also said on Monday that getting the fire 100% contained could take several days.

Horry County Fire Rescue spokesperson Tony Casey later told WMBF News that the agency’s first report of what is now a 2,000-acre wildfire came on Saturday when a neighbor reported a fire behind a house.

He clarified later Monday that the first report doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve pinpointed the cause of the fire. Those details remain under investigation.

SC National Guard drops nearly 60,000 gallons of water on fire

As of Monday afternoon, Casey said more than 500 first responders have descended on the county to help – with the main focus on getting the fire under control.

The South Carolina National Guard said on Monday that it has deployed two UH-60 Blackhawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter to Horry County to support firefighters.

“As of March 2, the two UH-60s had 18 flight hours and dropped 102 buckets totaling 59,000 gallons of water dispensed on the fires,” the South Carolina National Guard stated in its news release.

The county had more water drops take place on Monday, and crews are doing checks on the fire via drones. This is why it’s critical to leave the airspace open to first responders.

Horry County officials said the SCFC Commission is also aiding containment efforts and has deployed plows to help with strengthening and cutting lines.

An official with the South Carolina National Guard said the agency’s aviation resources have enhanced the state’s ability to protect lives and property. As of Monday, Horry County has not reported any injuries or homes lost as a result of the fire.

‘We had to get out of here’

Residents who were evacuated from several neighborhoods, including Walkers Woods and Avalaon, were allowed to return home Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, one homeowner near Tuckahoe Road showed WMBF News their melted home after the fire.

“I had to get out when I saw the flames so high that is scared me to death,” said Bill Oconnor, who had to evacuate. “I’ve got that imprinted in my mind. The flames were right here, and the heat, oh, forget it. I grabbed what we had and we hauled butt. We had to get out of here.”

The South Carolina Forestry Commission said if able, you can help put small flames out by simply spraying your yard with a water hose.

On Monday, residents like Oconnor were putting out active hot spots in their backyard.

“You could have cut through the smoke with a pair of scissors,” he said. “That’s how thick it was. You have to be vigilant. You can’t just run away. This is your home. You have to take care of it.”

The Red Cross shelter at Carolina Forest Recreation Center is now closed. The county said 18 people elected to stay there Sunday night, but the facility will now be used “for wildfire response operations for public safety agencies in the meantime.”

Any residents who need help can contact the Red Cross at 843-477-0020. In addition, the county also announced that the Carolina Forest Community Church is now well-stocked and not taking any more donations. 

SC governor applauds ‘Team South Carolina’ for coordinated response to wildfires

Governor Henry McMaster spoke to reporters on Monday about the ongoing effort to combat wildfires across the state.

As of Monday afternoon, the SCFC is reporting more than 100 wildfires across the state. The State Fire Marshal said on Sunday there were ongoing operations in response to more than 175 wildfires, impacting 4,200 acres across the state.

McMaster said he’s received no reports of any deaths or buildings destroyed. He said this is another great example of “Team South Carolina.”

“Everyone was involved,” McMaster said. “The National Guard, the sheriff’s departments, law enforcement, emergency management division as usual was getting all the information, keeping it together, dissminating it and it worked. I was getting reports every couple of hours, sometimes more, and it was a great performance.”

McMaster added that it could have been “much worse than it was” if not for the teamwork across the state. McMaster issued a State of Emergency for the wildfires on Sunday, which he said made everything work quicker.

There has been no federal assistance called in for the fire, according to the governor. However, McMaster said that as far as damages go, private insurance should take care of most damages, but added that the state will “do what’s necessary.”

A burn ban remains in place for the state.

Road closures

A section of International Drive remains closed indefinitely.

The closure will run from International Drive at Highway 90 to the nearby Ocean Bay schools.

The county said crews are utilizing the road for its emergency response.

Fires from west to east in North Carolina

A drier-than-normal winter across the Carolinas combined with high winds over the weekend and a cold front – minus the usual rain that accompanies it – led to an increased fire danger in North Carolina.

Hundreds of wildfires burned across the state over the weekend, with 10 active fires still burning Tuesday morning.

Firefighters are still battling a nearly 600-acre fire in Polk County Tuesday. Emergency Management officials said they’ll provide the next update around 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The county is on the fringes of an area badly hit by Hurricane Helene last year. Fallen trees that have not been cleared are increasing the risk of fires across the region.

In eastern North Carolina, nearly 80 mostly small wildfires were reported in Robeson County. Emergency officials said 15 structures were damaged, but they did not give specifics on the types of buildings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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