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A look back: Revisit our coverage of the March 2025 Carolina Forest wildfires

Stories by Sun News journalists, with AI summarization

The Carolina Forest wildfires have underscored a range of community impacts, from forced evacuations and compromised air quality to heightened scrutiny on residential fire safety and land management. Neighborhoods near the fire’s origin, especially those along Carolina Forest Boulevard, bore the brunt of the crisis, with thick vegetation accelerating the spread. Despite the fire’s reach of over 2,000 acres, no homes were destroyed thanks to intensive efforts by first responders, including Blackhawk helicopter water drops and perimeter-cutting bulldozers.

An air quality alert for fine particulates remains in effect as crews work toward full containment, while emerging investigations and a recent arrest spotlight the increasing concern over human-caused wildfires and burn ban violations. Allegations of backyard debris burns sparking the blaze reflect broader issues around enforcement and public compliance with fire safety regulations.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Fire and plumes of smoke could be seen in the Waterbridge community of Carolina Forest Saturday. Residents in Walkers Woods and Avalon neighborhoods were evacuated from their homes as a wildfire raged in the area. Firefighters were battling several fires across the county. March 1, 2025 By Jason Lee

NO. 1: RESIDENTS LEAVE HOMES AFTER WILDFIRES THREATEN NEIGHBORHOODS IN MYRTLE BEACH AREA

Wildfires continue to rage across Horry County. Firefighters are battling fires in the Carolina Forest area, trying to save homes affected by the blaze. | Published March 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Helicopters drop water on wildfires in the Carolina Forest area Monday, March 3, 2025. About 1,600 acres are on fire in the Myrtle Beach area. By Jason Lee

NO. 2: THREE CAROLINA FOREST NEIGHBORHOODS HIT HARD BY WILDFIRES. MAPPING SHOWS FIRES AT 2K+ ACRES

Horry County fire crews continue to battle wildfires in the Myrtle Beach area. Officials say situation looking better, but not in the clear yet. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

The Carolina Forest fire had burned more than 1600 acres by day three on Monday and was 30 percent contained. Firefighters from around the region dug fire breaks around communities and responded to hot spots while aircraft dropped water on the flames. Monday, March 3, 2025. By Jason Lee

NO. 3: UPDATED: WILL THE WIND IMPACT MYRTLE BEACH’S AIR QUALITY AFTER WILDFIRES? HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

Here’s the latest air quality report and weather forecast for the Myrtle Beach area after a weekend of intense wildfires. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

A couple walks on a nearly vacant strand at 11th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach. After a busy holiday weekend in which the City of Myrtle Beach enacted mask regulations to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Ocean Boulevard and area attractions were relatively quiet on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. By JASON LEE

NO. 4: THERE’S A WHOLE OCEAN NEARBY. WHY CAN’T IT BE USED TO FIGHT MYRTLE BEACH AREA WILDFIRES?

Wildfires continue to burn in the Carolina Forest area. Firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze, and helicopters and planes have been brought in to dump water on the fires. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Firefighters rush to put water on a blaze behind homes in the Walker’s Woods community. Evacuations continued over night for communities in the Carolina Forest area threatened by a forest fire. Firefighters and residents worked to protect their homes from the flames. Sunday, March 2, 2025. By Jason Lee

NO. 5: COULD MASSIVE MYRTLE BEACH AREA WILDFIRES TRACE BACK TO TRASH BURN? WHAT WE KNOW

Rumors have swirled on social media claiming to know the exact cause of the blaze that briefly forced several neighborhood evacuations, but officials warn it’s still to early to know. | Published March 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Weissman

The Carolina Forest fire had burned more than 1600 acres by day three on Monday and was 30 percent contained. Firefighters from around the region dug fire breaks around communities and responded to hot spots while aircraft dropped water on the flames. Monday, March 3, 2025. By Jason Lee

NO. 6: DAY 4: WILDFIRE COVERS 2K+ ACRES IN CAROLINA FOREST AREA. FIRE FIRST SPOTTED IN BACKYARD

Firefighters continue to battle a wildfire that has grown in the Myrtle Beach area. Horry County officials report when the fire that became the massive blaze began. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

The Carolina Forest fire had burned more than 1600 acres by day three on Monday and was 30 percent contained. Firefighters from around the region dug fire breaks around communities and responded to hot spots while aircraft dropped water on the flames. Monday, March 3, 2025. By Jason Lee

NO. 7: WILDFIRES IN THE MYRTLE BEACH AREA HAVEN’T DESTROYED ANY HOMES. HERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY

With fires raging in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach, no homes have burned down. Here’s what to know about why that is | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ben Morse

The Carolina Forest fire had burned more than 1600 acres by day three on Monday and was 30 percent contained. Firefighters from around the region dug fire breaks around communities and responded to hot spots while aircraft dropped water on the flames. Monday, March 3, 2025. By Jason Lee

NO. 8: UPDATE: 1 ARREST & 3 CITATIONS ISSUED DURING BURN BAN, HORRY COUNTY OFFICIAL SAYS

During Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled Horry County Council meeting, a county official said folks have broken the state burn ban since it’s been implemented | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

International Drive has reopened after being closed for several days for firefighting operations in the Carolina Forest area.

NO. 9: INTERNATIONAL DRIVE REOPENS. DRIVERS CAUTIONED TO BE AWARE AS FIRE CREWS BATTLE WILDFIRES

International Drive has reopened after being closed for several days because of wildfires in Carolina Forest in the Myrtle Beach area. | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Fire crews continue to battle wildfires in several neighborhoods in Carolina Forest in the Myrtle Beach, SC area. Severe thunderstorms, with wind gusts up to 60 mph, is expected to Horry County on Wednesday. March 4, 2025 By South Carolina Forestry Commission

NO. 10: WE FACT-CHECKED SOCIAL MEDIA THEORIES ABOUT CAROLINA FOREST WILDFIRE. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

Theories have started to pop up on social media regarding what could be behind the Carolina Forest fire. We went ahead and fact-checked them. | Published March 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

A screen grab from a video taken in the backyard of Alexandra Bialousow, accused of starting a wildfire that spread to more than 2,000-acres in the Myrtle Beach area. The South Carolina Forestry Commission, who arrested her earlier this month, said she didn’t have a hose or an appropriate water source to control the fire. By Courtesy of Jonny McCoy

NO. 11: SC FORESTRY COMMISSION SAYS CAROLINA FOREST WOMAN STARTED A WILDFIRE. HER LAWYER DISAGREES

The forestry commission says the alleges a Myrtle Beach area woman started the 2,000+ acre wildfire. Her lawyer says police lied. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.