DAY 4: State officials say Carolina Forest wildfire ‘believed to be human-caused’
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) - A massive wildfire in Carolina Forest is burning for a fourth straight day, with resources flooding to Horry County to slow down the spread.
As of the last update, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said the fire is 2,059 acres in size and 30% contained. It’s important to that contained does not mean extinguished; rather, it means firefighters have created a barrier around 30% of the fire, and it will not spread quickly.
In an update posted to Facebook Tuesday morning, the SCFC also said the fire was “believed to be human-caused,” but an investigation is ongoing and no official cause has been released. The agency also said the fire was not caused by a prescribed burn.
It’s also important to note that most wildfires in South Carolina are considered to be “human-caused.”
Smoky conditions are expected to continue, especially with a southeast wind pushing the worst of the smoke toward Highway 501 early Tuesday.
The wind is also expected to pick up Tuesday, with the WMBF News First Alert Weather Team saying gusts of 20-25 miles per hour are expected in the afternoon. These winds could provide challenges to first responders working to control hot spots.
SCFC told WMBF News on Monday that there’s worry about winds picking up. While rain in the forecast later this week could help, it also could create other safety concerns.
The WMBF News First Alert Weather Team issued a First Alert Weather Day for Wednesday because of the potential of strong, severe storms. The First Alert Weather team also said gusty winds would arrive Wednesday before the rain does, creating issues for first responders.
When the rain does come, it will help crews battle the fire, but it won’t rain enough to get rid of the threat of the wildfire in Carolina Forest, the team said.
SCFC previously said that getting the fire 100% contained could take several days.
In Horry County’s update Tuesday morning, the county said several hot spots overnight were quickly snuffed out. The county mentioned it is watching the wind and will adjust operations as needed.
The county also confirmed that planes and helicopters will be doing more water drops on Tuesday. WMBF received this video of a drop on Tuesday at The Reserve at Walkers Woods.
Horry County Fire Rescue said it will continue to work with SCFC crews Tuesday, reinforcing break lines, saturating the ground and deploying additional sprinkler lines.
Horry County is encouraging the community to follow Horry County Fire Rescue, local news outlets and sign up for Code Red emergency alerts as “it is always possible evacuations or other emergency notifications could become necessary.”
More than 500 first responders have worked the Carolina Forest wildfire, the county said.
FIRST RESPONSE
Horry County Fire Rescue spokesperson Tony Casey told WMBF News that the agency’s first report of what became the wildfire came Saturday when a neighbor reported a fire behind a house.
He clarified later Monday that the first report doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve pinpointed the cause of the fire. Those details remain under investigation.
“Until the fire is out, we encourage folks to steer clear of speculation and focus on staying safe,” the county said.
WMBF received new videos from a South Carolina Forestry member inside a dozier for the initial response to the wildfire.
CREWS BATTLE THE FIRE
As of Monday afternoon, Casey said more than 500 first responders have descended on the county to help - with the main focus on getting the fire under control.
Horry County officials added that the SCFC Commission is helping with “plows, strengthening and cutting lines, to work toward containment.”
The county also had more water drops take place on Monday, and crews are doing checks on the fire via drones. This is why it’s critical to leave the airspace open to first responders.
The Red Cross shelter at Carolina Forest Recreation Center is now closed. The county said 18 people elected to stay there Sunday night, but the facility will now be used “for wildfire response operations for public safety agencies in the meantime.”
According to a Red Cross official, the Red Cross remains at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center and will set up shop if evacuations happen again.
Any residents who need help can the Red Cross at 843-477-0020.
In addition, the county also announced that the Carolina Forest Community Church is now well-stocked and not taking any more donations.
As of Monday, Horry County has so far not reported any injuries or homes lost as a result of the fire.
EVACUATIONS
MORE INFORMATION | Residents evacuated from Carolina Forest wildfire allowed to return home
WMBF News received a dramatic and terrifying video of one family evacuating their home in Walkers Woods early Sunday morning.
Footage from a Ring doorbell camera at The Reserves at Walker Woods also shows intense flames in the area.
Residents under the evacuation order were allowed to head back home Sunday afternoon. The order impacted around seven neighborhoods in Carolina Forest.
The American Red Cross shelter at Carolina Forest Recreation Center then closed on Monday, and first responders are now using the facility.
On Monday, one homeowner near Tuckahoe Road showed WMBF News their melted home after the fire.
“I had to get out when I saw the flames so high that is scared me to death. I’ve got that imprinted in my mind. The flames were right here, and the heat, oh, forget it. I grabbed what we had and we hauled butt. We had to get out of here,” said Bill Oconnor, who had to evacuate.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission said if able, you can help put small flames out by simply spraying your yard with a water hose.
On Monday, residents like Oconnor were putting out active hot spots in their backyard.
“You could have cut through the smoke with a pair of scissors. That’s how thick it was. You have to be vigilant. You can’t just run away. This is your home. You have to take care of it. Look I got the hoses out here.”
S.C. OFFICIALS COMMENT ON WILDFIRES
Gov. Henry McMaster spoke to reporters in Columbia on Monday about the ongoing effort to combat wildfires across the state. As of Monday afternoon, the South Carolina Forestry Commission is reporting over 100 wildfires across the state. There were around 175 wildfires reported on Sunday.
McMaster said he’s received no reports of any deaths or buildings destroyed. He said this is another great example of “Team South Carolina.”
“Everyone was involved,” McMaster said. “The National Guard, the sheriff’s departments, law enforcement, emergency management division as usual was getting all the information, keeping it together, dissminating it and it worked. I was getting reports every couple of hours, sometimes more, and it was a great performance.”
McMaster added that it could have been “much worse than it was” if not for the teamwork across the state. McMaster issued a state of emergency for the wildfires on Sunday, which he said made everything work quicker.
There has been no federal assistance called in for the fire, according to the governor. However, McMaster said that as far as damages go, private insurance should take care of most damages, but added that the state will “do what’s necessary.”
A burn ban remains in place for the state.
Senator Lindsey Graham also spoke to Horry County Deputy County Randy Webster about the wildfires and released a statement.
AERIAL RESPONSE
The South Carolina National Guard said on Monday that it has deployed two UH-60 Blackhawks and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter to Horry County to firefighters.
“As of March 2, the two UH-60s had 18 flight hours and dropped 102 buckets totaling 59,000 gallons of water dispensed on the fires,” the South Carolina National Guard stated in its news release.
An official with the South Carolina National Guard also said that the agency’s aviation resources enhance that state’s ability to protect lives and property.
The agency shared this video showing an aerial view of a water drop in Horry County.
Here are some more videos of water drops in the county.
ROAD CLOSURE
A section of International Drive remains closed indefinitely.
The closure will run from International Drive at Highway 90 to the nearby Ocean Bay schools.
The county said crews are utilizing the road for its emergency response.
Stay with WMBF News for updates.
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