UPDATE: 1 arrest & 3 citations issued during burn ban, Horry County official says

An arrest warrant and citation have been issued in Horry County, S.C. since the state burn ban was instated last week, Randall Webster, deputy county administrator of public safety, said Tuesday night.

By Wednesday morning, county spokesperson Mikayla Moskov wrote in an email that the number had increased to one arrest, with the person in custody, and three citations.

At this point they are not directly linked to the Carolina Forest area wildfire, county spokesperson Moskov clarified via email after Webster’s comment. On Wednesday she wrote that all four incidents took place in Horry County.

She said these illegal burning incidents occurred in other areas of Horry County, including the Conway area, and north end of the county. Exact details on the illegal burning incidents are still unclear, Moskov said.

“Reminder, no one has been charged in connection with the Carolina Forest area wildfire,” she wrote. “The fire investigation will occur once the fire is contained and extinguished.”

Webster’s remarks follow a days-long battle against a wildfire in Carolina Forest, which is part of unincorporated Horry County.

As of Tuesday night the fire was 2,059 acres and 30% contained, he said.

The cause of those fires has not been determined, but they are believed to be started by people. Officials have said that there will be an investigation once the fires have been completely extinguished.

The first report of the fire that became the wildfire in Carolina Forest was spotted about 2:30 p.m. Saturday behind a house in one of the affected neighborhoods, Moskov wrote via text Tuesday. Her text said that is not “necessarily the ignition point or cause,” which can only be determined once the fire is totally extinguished.

Moskov said rumors that someone was burning trash in a backyard, causing the fire, have not been verified.

Forest Management Chief for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, Russell Hubright, said by text that the wildfire was not caused by the controlled burn conducted earlier in the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve along International Drive by the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

Doug Wood, spokesperson for the SCFC, said a person is required by state law to notify the forestry commission before burning. If they don’t, they could receive a citation and fine.

“You’re on the hook if you’re found to be liable,” he said.

Officials will be investigating the Carolina Forest fire and every other fire that happened over the weekend, according to Wood.

“Everyone will be investigating,” he said.

Sun News reporter & editor Terri Richardson contributed reporting to this story.

This story was originally published March 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM.

Elizabeth Brewer

The Sun News

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Elizabeth covers local government and politics in Myrtle Beach and holds truth to power as the accountability reporter. She’s lived in five states and holds a masters degree in Journalism.