MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. —
Firefighters are still working to fully contain a wildfire in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, nearly three weeks after it began.
On Saturday, March 8, the Florida Forest Service announced it assumed command of the Carolina Forest Fire. The agency said this gives the South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters an opportunity for some much-needed rest.
On March 19, the Florida Forest Service announced it will officially transfer command of the fire back to the South Carolina Forestry Commission at noon on March 20.
Friday Update 3.21
The reported containment level remains steady at 80% today, and the fire size continues to hold at 2,059 acres. There were light rain showers in the area yesterday, but the fire only received 0.1 inch of rain. This minimal amount of rainfall had no impact on fire activity; the fire continues to smolder in pockets of underground peat soil, resulting in smoky conditions in nearby neighborhoods.
Today, mastication crews will continue working along the southern perimeter of the fire. In addition, firefighters will remain actively engaged in monitoring and patrolling the fire lines, and performing mop-up operations when they encounter hot spots.
Today will be clear and sunny with temperatures in the low 60s. Winds are forecast to be out of the northwest at 10 to 15 miles per hour. Relative humidity will drop to around 35% late this afternoon.
The air quality in the area is reportedly GOOD today. However, conditions will vary widely in areas close to the fire based on wind direction. If you don't see or smell smoke, it is safe to open windows or spend time outdoors. Unusually sensitive individuals should consider limiting outdoor activities to light and short durations and should move indoors to cleaner air if they experience any symptoms. For more information, please visit fire.airnow.gov.
Wednesday Update 3.19
Containment has increased to 80% and the fire size remains at 2,059 acres.
The mastication project and mop-up efforts are progressing as planned, and fire managers are increasingly confident that the fire will remain within the containment lines. The four mastication machines are making steady progress from both the eastern and western ends of the fire line. These machines will continue operations today as crews work toward each other along the southern perimeter of the fire. The mastication process is effectively reducing fuel loads by grinding vegetation into mulch, creating a wider and more defensible containment line between the houses and the smoldering fire. In addition, firefighters will continue their mop-up efforts and line improvement around the fire area today.
The Florida Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) will officially transfer command of the fire back to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) at noon tomorrow. Local SCFC personnel will then re-assume responsibility for managing the fire until all mastication and mop-up operations are completed. They will continue monitoring the fire until they are confident that it is securely contained within the firebreaks with no threat of escape. This transition follows standard wildfire management protocols, ensuring continuity of operations as the incident moves from active suppression to a monitoring phase.
High pressure will bring dry conditions and temperatures in the upper 70s today. Wind will be light blowing out of the south around 5 miles per hour. Relative humidity this morning will be around 80% but will fall to 30% by mid-day.
The air quality is GOOD today. People who are not sensitive to smoke, conduct activities as normal. People who are very sensitive to smoke should consider reducing outdoor activities and going inside to cleaner air if symptoms arise. For more information, please visit fire.airnow.gov.
Monday Update 3.17
Containment has increased to 75%, and the fire remains at 2,059 acres.
Heavy rain fell in the area yesterday with totals reaching approximately one inch across the fire. Crews will scout the fire area today to evaluate the rain’s impact on fire behavior and adjust suppression tactics based on their observations.
Mastication crews are scheduled to begin work this morning. Two masticators will begin work on the northeastern end of the planned fuelbreak and the other two will begin at the northwestern end. They will work toward each other until they meet in the middle. The project is expected to take seven to 10 days to complete.
The mastication work will establish defensible space—a modified buffer zone between houses and the smoldering wildfire. This protective zone increases the chances of the structures surviving a wildfire without requiring active defense while also providing firefighters accessibility and operational space if protective measures become necessary. For more information on this project, see the full release here.
Today will be partly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. High temperatures will be in the mid-60s, with northwest winds around 10 miles per hour.
The air quality is GOOD today. People who are not sensitive to smoke, conduct activities as normal. People who are very sensitive to smoke should consider reducing outdoor activities and going inside to cleaner air if symptoms arise. For more information, please visit
fire.airnow.gov.
Thursday Update 3.13
Containment has been increased to 65% and the fire remains at 2,059 acres in size. Personnel thoroughly scouted the fire yesterday and observed very limited fire activity along the containment lines; however, interior heat was still detected in several areas, all inside the established firebreaks. An infrared detection flight overnight backed up those findings and showed exact locations of hot pockets around the fire. Efforts today will focus on cooling those hot spots and working continually toward increased containment.
No significant hot spots were found in the northeastern portion of the fire when personnel scouted the area yesterday. Bulldozer operators will continue to patrol the lines in that division and be available to contain any flares ups if they occur as the ground dries out. In addition, the work along the northwestern section of the fireline has reduced fire activity in that area, and a portion of that line is now classified as contained. The firetrack and helicopter crews, with help from the structural firefighter’s hose lays and sprinkler systems, will continue to mop up hot spots around the remaining fire area today.
Today will be unseasonably warm and dry, with temperatures around 75 degrees. Light west-southwest winds this morning will shift to southerly this afternoon. Relative humidity will be in the low 40s.
Smoke
The air quality is MODERATE today. If you are not sensitive to smoke and don’t see smoke, conduct activities as normal. People who are very sensitive to smoke should consider reducing outdoor activities and going inside to cleaner air if symptoms arise. For more information, please visit fire.airnow.gov.
Sunday Update 3.9
As of Sunday, the fire size remains at 2,059 acres and is still considered 55% contained.
Crews will continue to monitor and patrol the lines in the northeastern area of the fire, looking for any hot spots and making sure the line continues to hold. Additionally, the fire track crew will also be working in that section along the powerline right-of-way east of the Avalon community, saturating hot spots to continue reducing the risk of fire spread. Firefighters in the Seneca Ridge Drive area are working in conjunction with the National Guard helicopters again today, targeting any remaining hot spots with water drops. Bulldozer operators will also look for opportunities to widen firebreaks in that area. Work along the southwest and northwestern portion of the fire will focus on reinforcing lines and applying water to areas where the bulldozers can’t reach using hose lays installed by the structural firefighting crews.
Today will be partly sunny with a slight chance of rain showers this morning, increasing into the afternoon and evening. The high temperature is expected to be around 60 degrees, and relative humidity around 44%, increasing as the front comes in. Winds will be out of the northeast at around 5 miles per hour.
The air quality is MODERATE today. People who are sensitive to smoke should consider reducing outdoor activity and going indoors if symptoms arise. For more information, please visit fire.airnow.gov.
Saturday Update 3.8
A week after a woman allegedly ignited a wildfire that burned thousands of acres in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Florida Forest Service Incident Management Team (IMT) has taken over.
On Saturday, the Florida Forest Service announced it will assume command of the Carolina Forest Fire. The agency said this will give the South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters an opportunity for some much-needed rest.
The Florida Forest Service IMT is in South Carolina as part of the Southeastern Forest Fire Compact. The compact is a cooperative agreement between 13 southeastern states from Texas to Florida and up to Virginia.
As of Saturday, the size of the Carolina Forest Fire remains unchanged at 2,059 acres and is 55% contained. Low intensity fire continues to spread slowly through surface fuels inside the firebreaks, with occasional flare-ups when wind gusts occur. Today, crews will continue reinforcing firebreaks, mopping up, and suppressing hot spots as needed.
Containment lines in the northeastern portion of the fire are holding well. Personnel will continue to monitor and patrol these lines throughout the day. Firefighters will continue to rely on National Guard helicopters to assist with fire suppression in the southeastern area of the fire, as boggy soils limit bulldozer access. Aerial resources will work with firefighters to apply water on hot spots to aid in fire suppression and minimize smoke impacts to the surrounding area.
Along the southwest and northwestern edges of the fire, fire units will continue mopping up areas 100 feet inside the fireline to saturate the ground and reduce the risk of fire spread. In addition, hose lays and sprinkler systems will continue to be used to keep fire activity low and minimize the threat to containment lines.
For Saturday, it will be mostly sunny with a high of 76 degrees, and relative humidity will be around 40%. Winds will be out of the west at 5-10 mph, increasing slightly to 12 mph with gusts to 25 later in the afternoon. A high-pressure system will move off the coast tonight, with dry weather and a shift to north winds expected. Clouds and rain chances will increase on Sunday as low pressure develops to the south.
The air quality is MODERATE today. People who are sensitive to smoke should consider reducing outdoor activity and going indoors if symptoms arise. For more information, please visit fire.airnow.gov.