MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Check here for the live updates on the wildfires going on in Carolina Forest and other areas of the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.
11:50 A.M.
Gov. Henry McMaster has issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency to support South Carolina’s ongoing response to wildfires burning across the state. The order enhances ongoing emergency response efforts as firefighters work to contain the wildfires affecting the Grand Strand and other regions.
His order also continues a statewide ban on outdoor burning until further notice.
According to the State Fire Marshal, authorities are fighting more than 175 wildfires, impacting 4,200 acres across the state, including Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union, and Pickens counties.
10:30 A.M.
Dozens of fire agencies from across the Carolinas have joined Horry County crews as they work against the sweeping Carolina Forest wildfire, including:
- Williamsburg County Fire Department
- North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue
- Myrtle Beach Fire Department
- Conway Fire Department
- Dillon County Fire Department
- Lugoff Fire Department
- Marion City Fire Department
- Johnsonville Fire Department
- Howe Springs Fire Rescue
- Sandridge Volunteer Fire Department
- Calabash Fire Department
- Tabor City Fire Department
- Olanta Fire Department
- Hannah-Salem Friendfield Fire District
- Sardis-Timmonsville Fire Department
- Goose Creek Fire Department
- Florence City Fire Department
- Surfside Beach Fire Department
- Wilmington Fire Department
- Columbus County Fire Department
10 A.M.
More than 50 people have checked into a Red Cross shelter at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center as state Forestry Commission officials estimate the wildfire to be at least 1,200 acres.
Seven Carolina Forest neighborhoods have seen evacuations, most recently in Spring Lake and Waterford. Horry County officials said there’s still no timeline for re-entry.
9:30 A.M.
Aerial assets from multiple state agencies are arriving in Horry County to help put out hotspots around the Carolina Forest area, lawmakers said.
“Air assets from State Agencies (South Carolina Forestry Commission and the Department of Natural Resources) will soon be deployed in an effort to tamp down remaining hot spots in the Carolina Forest area affected by the wildfires,” state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Conway, posted to his Facebook page Sunday morning.
State Rep. Tim McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach, said on his Facebook page that forestry officials told him Blackhawk helicopters are among the aircraft coming in.
8:45 A.M.
Here’s a map from the South Carolina Forest Commission showing the active wildfires across the state.
7:35 A.M.
Fire resources from the Pee Dee are assisting with the Carolina Forest wildfire. Howe Springs Fire Rescue said Florence County has four engines, three tankers, three brush trucks and 28 personnel working the fire.
7:20 A.M.
Evacuations in the Carolina Forest area expanded quickly early Sunday morning as a wildfire grew to 1,200 acres.
Around 6 a.m., Horry County officials said evacuations were underway at the intersections of Spring Lake Drive, including Pennyroyal Court, Alyssum Court and Bluebonnet Court as well as Harvest Drive from Moonbeam Court to Tidelands Court in the Spring Lake community.
Around 4:45 a.m., Horry County officials announced that public safety personnel were evacuating Covington Drive from Summerhill Drive to the community center in the Covington Lakes neighborhood, with nearby structures threatened. Evacuees are told to go to the Carolina Forest Recreation Center. Others are asked to avoid the area and leave roadways open for first responders.
