MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Check here for the live updates on the wildfires going on in Carolina Forest and other areas of the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.
The smaller of two Carolina Forest area wildfires is 80% contained, according to the South Carolina Forest Commission. The Blackthorn Drive Fire has covered about 800 acres.
The larger Covington Drive Fire, which has covered about 1,200 acres, remains uncontained, officials said. Evacuations are still in place for Indigo Bay Farm, Summerlyn, Spring Lake, Covington Lakes, Waterford, Walkers Woods and Avalon neighborhoods.
Statewide there were 108 wildfire ignitions on Saturday, most of which have been effectively contained. With a statewide burn ban in place, there have been fewer than 10 new fire on Sunday.
Smoke from the Carolina Forest wildfires does not appear to be affecting flights in or out of Myrtle Beach International Airport. There are no cancellations showing on the airport’s website and nearly all flights through midnight are listed as on-time.
Horry County authorities and the American Red Cross are continuing to provide food and shelter to evacuees at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center. Pets are allowed at the center but unless it’s a trained service animal, it must remain in a crate or carrier.
One evacuee told News13 about her experience.
“I had my brother call me and tell me to look out the back window,” Penny McEntire said. “He’s at the end of the street, where The Reserve is. That was all burning. I no more than hung up from him when I got a police officer knocking on my door, saying we have to evacuate. So, I’ve been here since about 3:00 this morning.”
The Red Cross is also accepting donations to help those affected by the fires, while also providing some basic care items. The organization also has mental-health counselors on call.
“People can download the Red Cross Emergency app,” spokesman Michael Hesbach said. “There’s a map, and there’s a pin on that map, right now, that shows the location of this shelter, if you’re not familiar with it. That app will also give geographic-specific warnings as well, should there be any in the area.”
Photo: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Photo: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
State Department of Natural Resources director Tom Mullikin and other top officials visit Lewis Ocean Bay Preserve in Horry County to assess fire damage and help secure local roadways.
The South Carolina Forest Commission shows 15 wildfire incidents in Horry County from the Green Sea area south to Carolina Forest.
News13 video / Kate Blazo
Helicopters and air tankers continue to drop water as hundreds of firefighters from dozens of agencies work on the ground to bring the massive fires in the Carolina Forest areas under control. All but the two in the Carolina Forest area appear to be 100% contained. Those are the biggest — 1,200 acres and 300 acres — and the website shows zero containment.
Gov. Henry McMaster has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency to support South Carolina’s ongoing response to wildfires burning across the state. The order enhances ongoing emergency response efforts as firefighters work to contain the wildfires affecting the Grand Strand and other regions.
His order also continues a statewide ban on outdoor burning until further notice.
According to the State Fire Marshal, authorities are fighting more than 175 wildfires, impacting 4,200 acres across the state, including Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union, and Pickens counties.
Dozens of fire agencies from across the Carolinas have joined Horry County crews as they work against the sweeping Carolina Forest wildfire, including:
- Williamsburg County Fire Department
- North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue
- Myrtle Beach Fire Department
- Conway Fire Department
- Dillon County Fire Department
- Lugoff Fire Department
- Marion City Fire Department
- Johnsonville Fire Department
- Howe Springs Fire Rescue
- Sandridge Volunteer Fire Department
- Calabash Fire Department
- Tabor City Fire Department
- Olanta Fire Department
- Hannah-Salem Friendfield Fire District
- Sardis-Timmonsville Fire Department
- Goose Creek Fire Department
- Florence City Fire Department
- Surfside Beach Fire Department
- Wilmington Fire Department
- Columbus County Fire Department
Firefighters work in the Walkers Woods neighborhood inside Carolina Forest on Sunday, March 2. Photo / Skylar Musick
More than 50 people have checked into a Red Cross shelter at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center as state Forestry Commission officials estimate the wildfire to be at least 1,200 acres.
Seven Carolina Forest neighborhoods have seen evacuations, most recently in Spring Lake and Waterford. Horry County officials said there’s still no timeline for re-entry.
Aerial assets from multiple state agencies are arriving in Horry County to help put out hotspots around the Carolina Forest area, lawmakers said.
“Air assets from State Agencies (South Carolina Forestry Commission and the Department of Natural Resources) will soon be deployed in an effort to tamp down remaining hot spots in the Carolina Forest area affected by the wildfires,” state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Conway, posted to his Facebook page Sunday morning.
State Rep. Tim McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach, said on his Facebook page that forestry officials told him Blackhawk helicopters are among the aircraft coming in.
Here’s a map from the South Carolina Forest Commission showing the active wildfires across the state.
Fire resources from the Pee Dee are assisting with the Carolina Forest wildfire. Howe Springs Fire Rescue said Florence County has four engines, three tankers, three brush trucks and 28 personnel working the fire.
Evacuations in the Carolina Forest area expanded quickly early Sunday morning as a wildfire grew to 1,200 acres.
Around 6 a.m., Horry County officials said evacuations were underway at the intersections of Spring Lake Drive, including Pennyroyal Court, Alyssum Court and Bluebonnet Court as well as Harvest Drive from Moonbeam Court to Tidelands Court in the Spring Lake community.
Around 4:45 a.m., Horry County officials announced that public safety personnel were evacuating Covington Drive from Summerhill Drive to the community center in the Covington Lakes neighborhood, with nearby structures threatened. Evacuees are told to go to the Carolina Forest Recreation Center. Others are asked to avoid the area and leave roadways open for first responders.
* * *
Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
