Day 7: Carolina Forest wildfire halfway contained. Are we close to being out of the woods?
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South Carolina Wildfires
Wildfires impacted more than 1,600 acres in the Myrtle Beach area, with flames burning within a few feet of homes in communities close to Carolina Forest.
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More than half of the Carolina Forest wildfire has been contained, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
A wildfire that covers 2,059 acres in the Myrtle Beach area has burned for more than seven days, affecting neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest area.
As of Thursday evening, Horry County officials reported that 55% of the fire has been contained, which means that a line has been placed around the fire edge, but it is not completely extinguished.
Continued dry conditions and wind has caused flare-ups and firefighters have been responding to hot spots, Horry County officials said. Friday’s weather calls for calmer winds and partly sunny, according to the National Weather Service.
However, the Covington Drive fire has calmed down significantly from the blaze threatening homes on Saturday.
But while officials are “guardingly optimistic” about the blaze, “we’re not out of the woods yet... but things are looking better,” Russell Hubright with the South Carolina Forestry Commission said Friday. “We don’t let our guard down. If this thing does something unexpected, were ready to jump on it.”
“Water is the name of the game (Friday),” Hubright said.
Much of Thursday’s progress in containment was made on the northeastern edge, where crews widened breaks and conducted mop-up operations within the established lines, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said.
Thermal drone video from Horry County Fire Rescue shows hot spots throughout the area.
The wildfire has little fire activity, has gone down to embers and is currently “smoldering,” Russell Hubright with the South Carolina Forestry Commission said Thursday.
Wednesday’s rain helped with the wildfires.
Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters with the South Carolina National Guard, as well as single-engine planes, continued to drop water on the fires Thursday.
The Covington Drive wildfire began Saturday afternoon, spreading quickly and moving close to homes and backyards and resulted in evacuations. However, no homes or structures have been destroyed from the fires and there have been no injuries.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 8:51 AM.
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