Update: Myrtle Beach area dealing with ‘largest fire’ in state. Residents returning home
Residents in multiple neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest area that were evacuated Saturday and Sunday are being allowed to return home as wildfires continue to burn across the Myrtle Beach area.
As of 4:30 p.m. Sunday, residents of all neighborhoods previously evacuated due to the wildfire are now able to return home, according to an email from Horry County spokesperson Mikayla Moskov.
Residents will encounter law enforcement checkpoints as they return, Moskov said. Residents are told to watch for possible rekindling of hot spots in the area and call 911 if assistance is needed.
As of 3:20 p.m. Sunday, the Carolina Forest area fire is roughly 1,200 acres, while a second wildfire near S.C. 22 is 800 acres, according to the the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The smaller fire is 80% contained, said Doug Woods, spokesperson with the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
There are several wildfires raging across South Carolina on Sunday, but Horry County has “by far the largest fire,” Woods said.
The fire near Carolina Forest has not been contained but there is a “good line” around the perimeter, according to Woods. The fire has not spread since reaching 1,200 acres.
Flightradar24 shows planes dropping water on the fire have concentrated on an area east of Waterford Plantation and a second area northwest of Walker Woods.
As of this time, no structures have succumbed to the wildfire, and no injuries are reported, according to Horry County Fire Rescue on its Facebook page. There are over 20 agencies from across the Carolinas assisting with the wildfire.
Horry County Fire Rescue urges everyone in the Carolina Forest area to continue monitoring fire conditions and prepare a go-bag and emergency plan. The smoke is also causing low visibility so take caution when driving, officials advise.
State Representative Tim McGinnis said that two Blackhawk helicopters will be dropping water on the fire Sunday and additional tractors are on the way to help dig lines around the Carolina Forest fire.
Where people were evacuated
Residents in the Carolina Forest area of Blackberry Lane from the intersections of Spring Lake Drive, including Pennyroyal Court, Alyssum Court, Bluebonnet Court, as well as Harvest Drive from Moonbeam Court to Tidelands Court in the Spring Lake community were told to leave their homes Saturday and early Sunday morning.
Other evacuation areas include Arrow Wood Court, Indianola Court and Tuckahoe Road in the Walkers Woods neighborhood; Covington Drive from Summerhill Drive to the community center in the Covington Lakes neighborhood; and Indigo Bay, Farm, Summerlyn, Spring Lake, Covington Lakes, Waterford, Walkers Woods and Avalon neighborhoods, according to a Facebook post from Horry County Fire Rescue.
Should an evacuation occur, public safety personnel will go through the neighborhood knocking on doors to notify residents of the risk of remaining in place. Authorities advise to act swiftly if told to evacuate.
Evacuees are advised to go to Carolina Forest Recreation Center, where provisions were being provided for residents by Horry County officials and the American Red Cross.
As of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, residents of Tuckahoe Road and Wyandot Court were allowed to return home. However, residents again were evacuated several hours later after the blaze threatened homes.
About 7 p.m. Saturday, International Drive was closed to all non-public safety traffic as crews work to respond to the wildfire in Carolina Forest.
A burn ban has been in place in Horry County since Thursday as dry and windy conditions persist.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a burn ban on Saturday for all counties across the state until further notice. At least 102 wildfires were reported across the state on Saturday.
The incident response has involved 410 personnel manning, among other vehicles, at least 127 fire apparatus. Personnel will continue to staff this incident until the fire is contained, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.
Fire contained near Lewis Bay Ocean Preserve
Firefighters with Horry County Fire Rescue, North Myrtle Beach and South Carolina Forestry Commission battled a fire in the area of Old Highway 90 and Edge Road.
As of 9:50 p.m. Saturday the fire was contained, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. However, crews will remain on the scene for potential flare-ups and people will continue to see smoke.
At 1:25 p.m. Saturday, Horry County Fire Rescue was dispatched to the area of Old Highway 90 and Edge Road for a reported outside fire that was more than 100 acres.
About 20 homes in that area are also being threatened and are being evacuated out of an abundance of caution, a Facebook post said.
North Myrtle Beach Fire Chief Billy Floyd said Saturday that crews are working with Horry County Fire Rescue to battle the fire off of Highway 90 in the area of Lewis Bay Ocean Preserve.
Crews spent more than four hours battling the blaze from all sides, including near the industrial park, Floyd said.
Floyd said he is keeping a watch that the fire doesn’t move toward Water Tower Road and Barefoot Resort.
“It looks a lot better than 2½ hours ago,” Floyd said.
An aerial view of homes on Tuckahoe Road in Carolina Forest shows the wildfires and smoke. Firefighters headed to the area to try and save the homes.
Wood said Saturday that the crews are battling more than 100 acres along Lewis Ocean Bay Preserve. Bulldozers and varying types of equipment are being brought in to help fight the fire.
The preserve is where forestry officials conducted a controlled burn last week that ended up getting out of control and spreading to 275 acres.
It’s unclear if the controlled burn also caused this fire, Woods said.
“We don’t know a cause right now,” Wood said. “I don’t know if it’s smoldering remains” from the controlled burn.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published March 1, 2025 at 5:25 PM.
