MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) –UPDATE – The South Carolina Forestry Commission says Friday evenings rainfall helped reduce the fire activity but did not extinguish it. Lighting forced the South Carolina Forestry Commission off the fireline. Fire crews returned to the area Saturday morning to put in new fire breaks and to check for hot spots.
Firewise Field Coordinator Drake Carroll said they hope to have the fire completely contained in a few days.
“We’re not sure as to the cause of this fire,” said Carroll. He added that it’s a little unusual for forest fires to occur in the summer months because of the high humidity.
Crews responded to a wildland fire off International Drive in the Carolina Forest area of Horry County Friday morning, according to Horry County Fire Rescue officials.
Battalion Chief Brian VanAernem with HCFR says the fire is located just north of Wheatfield Drive and was first reported to have consumed five acres Thursday night. The South Carolina Forestry Service planned to plow a wide swath around the burned area in order to ensure that, if the fire did reignite, it would not have fuel by which to move to a larger area, explains North Myrtle Beach spokesperson Pat Dowling.
Dowling says the forestry service encountered a difficult environment and could not fully access the area in order to do that work. Crews originally planned to perform a 250 acre back burn, but that planned change Friday morning. The forestry service will not do the back burn, says Dowling.
The fire that is now burning near International Drive originated from the five acre fire that began Thursday, explains Dowling.
The fire does not pose a fire threat to Barefoot Resort or other neighborhoods but, due to current winds, smoke and ash from the burn may enter North Myrtle Beach Friday.
The North Myrtle Beach Fire Department has stationed personnel with the South Carolina Forestry Service crews to monitor the fire, Dowling adds.
Residents in the area who may become concerned about flames or smoke near their home can call 911.
