Myrtle Beach woman accused of igniting massive wildfire in Carolina Forest
Updated: 6:07 PM EST Mar 7, 2025
POSSESSION OF A WEAPON DURING A VIOLENT CRIME. A WOMAN HAS BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MASSIVE CAROLINA FOREST WILDFIRE NEAR MYRTLE BEACH. THE FORESTRY COMMISSION SAYS 40 YEAR OLD ALEXANDRIA BELLOSO IS FACING TWO FIRE RELATED CHARGES. OFFICIALS SAY SHE ALLOWED A DEBRIS FIRE TO GET OUT OF CONTROL, BURNING MORE THAN 2000 ACRES. WITNESSES SAY SHE STARTED A FIRE IN A BACKYARD FIRE PIT THAT WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO A TREE LINE AND DIDN’T HAVE PROPER WATE
Myrtle Beach woman accused of igniting massive wildfire in Carolina Forest
Updated: 6:07 PM EST Mar 7, 2025
The South Carolina Forestry Commission announced the arrest of a woman who allegedly caused more than 2,000 acres to burn near Myrtle Beach.SCFC law enforcement officials arrested 40-year-old Alexandra Bialousow of Myrtle Beach on Thursday for two charges related to the escape of a residential yard debris burn that is alleged to have ignited the now-2,000+ acre Carolina Forest wildfire.Bialousow is accused of not taking the proper precautions to prevent her debris burn from escaping and negligently allowing fire to spread to “lands of another.”Witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally start a fire in a backyard fire pit that was in close proximity to a tree line within Covington Lakes Subdivision on March 1.According to the arrest warrant, the suspect “did not have an appropriate water source readily available,” nor did she “have any garden tools on hand to control the fire, thus allowing the fire to spread to land owned by Walker Woods HOA. This incident was witnessed by several neighbors.”Upon conviction, Bialousow could face up to 30-days imprisonment and a fine of no more than $200 for each charge. Bialousow was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Thursday afternoon.As of Thursday morning, crews did not observe any fire growth overnight. The fire remains at 55% containment and 2,059 acres in size.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. —The South Carolina Forestry Commission announced the arrest of a woman who allegedly caused more than 2,000 acres to burn near Myrtle Beach.
SCFC law enforcement officials arrested 40-year-old Alexandra Bialousow of Myrtle Beach on Thursday for two charges related to the escape of a residential yard debris burn that is alleged to have ignited the now-2,000+ acre Carolina Forest wildfire.
Bialousow is accused of not taking the proper precautions to prevent her debris burn from escaping and negligently allowing fire to spread to “lands of another.”
Witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally start a fire in a backyard fire pit that was in close proximity to a tree line within Covington Lakes Subdivision on March 1.
According to the arrest warrant, the suspect “did not have an appropriate water source readily available,” nor did she “have any garden tools on hand to control the fire, thus allowing the fire to spread to land owned by Walker Woods HOA. This incident was witnessed by several neighbors.”
Upon conviction, Bialousow could face up to 30-days imprisonment and a fine of no more than $200 for each charge.
Bialousow was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Thursday afternoon.
As of Thursday morning, crews did not observe any fire growth overnight. The fire remains at 55% containment and 2,059 acres in size.
