Thousands Evacuated for Myrtle Beach Fire

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH – Forty homes have been destroyed, another 100 damaged and 15,000 acres have been burned by a fast-moving wildfire that started north of Conway Wednesday afternoon and burned into North Myrtle Beach Thursday morning.

CURRENT STATUS FROM HORRY COUNTY EOC

• 15,000 acres have been consummed

• 40 homes have been destroyed

• 100 homes have been damaged

• 2,500 citizens have been evacuated

• 250 citizens are currently in shelters located at the House of Blues and the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic Center

• Both Barefoot Resort and the Pelican Bay subdivisions have been evacuated

• There have been no fatalities or injuries reported due to the fire.

• Citizens are reminded that shelters cannot accept pets. There is limited space for evacuees’ pets at either the Murrells Inlet Veterinary Hospital at 843-651-3355 or the Saint Frances Animal Hospital at 843-249-1988

• Hwy 31 is closed from the Grissom Parkway to Hwy 9

• Hwy 22 is closed from Hwy 90 into Myrtle Beach

• Hwy 17 and Hwy 90 are both open however citizens are advised to be wary of thick smoke

• Citizens with special medical needs can contact the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control at 915-8804 regarding Special Medical Needs shelters.
  

As of noon no lives had been lost in the fire, but state forestry officials said two firefighters had to deploy their shelters when they were over run by flames Wednesday night and one bulldozer was “significantly damaged” when it was over run as well.

As of 11 a.m. 2,500 residents have been evacuated from areas hit by the fire, including Barefoot Resort and Pelican Bay subdivisions.

Of those evacuated, 250 were sheltering at either House of Blues or North Myrtle Beach Aquatic Center, Horry County officials said.

Gov. Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency to open the way for state resources to flow into Horry County and activated the SC National Guard to assist.

The governor also activated an agreement with surrounding states that will open up other avenues of assistance to Horry County, officials said.

A Guard helicopter with a bucket has been making water drops throughout the morning, state emergency management officials said in a late morning press conference.

In addition to Guard resources, 25 SC Forestry Commission units (a truck, bulldozer and plough) were on the ground in Horry County along with about 50 people.

The state and regional resources are in addition to help from surrounding counties – including Florence County and City—that has poured in to help battle the fire.

Horry County schools in North Myrtle Beach closed early Thursday morning and were to remain closed Friday, Horry County officials said.

Students Thursday morning were either released to their parents or taken to Loris area schools.

Students who weren’t picked up in the morning will be taken back to their schools to be picked up and taken home at the end of the school day, according to Horry County school officials.


North Myrtle Beach Public Information Officer Nicole Aiello said between 30-50 homes burned in the Barefoot Resort area off of US 17. Most of the damage occurred in the Longwood and Dye Club areas of the resort, Aiello said.

So far, no injuries were reported.

The area currently on fire is estimated to be between 7,000-8,000 acres, officials said.

As an added challenge to firefighters, the blaze has spread into several Carolina Bays.

Tropical downpours are often needed to extinguish such fires, said state Forestry Commission spokesman Scott Hawkins.

“Once you get a fire in a bay, it’s very, very hard to put out,“ he said.

National Guard air drops are expected to take place throughout the morning as firefighters try to get the upper hand on the blaze.

Overnight, residents living on Water Tower Road were evacuated as the fire approached, Horry County Fire and Rescue spokesman Todd Cartner said.

At times the fire has forced several major roads to be closed – including SC 22 and SC 31 in the North Myrtle Beach areas and SC 90, which is close to where the fire started.

Shortly before 7:30 Thursday morning, authorities reopened Highway 90 from Lee’s Landing and Old Reaves Road.

Horry County schools not in the North Myrtle Beach area will operate on a regular schedule Thursday, although some buses may be delayed due to the road closures.

The Horry County Emergency Operations Center opened at 8 a.m.

Citizens can call Horry County Emergency Management at 915-5150 for updated information.

The fire is burning in one of the state’s most important tourist areas. One area attraction just escaped damage in the fire.

Cartner said Wednesday night the fire had spread to the Grande Dunes Golf Club.

Officials at the club said the fire jumped SC 31 and got to the protective berm that separates the highway from the golf course.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire there and prevent it from reaching the first hole. The club will be open for business on Thursday morning.

Hawkins says crews continue to struggle to contain the fire and that high winds and low humidity will hamper firefighters through Thursday.

The Red Cross opened a shelter Wednesday afternoon at Tilly Swamp Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 4619 Hwy 90, Conway in the area where the fire originally broke out.

The shelter was closed Thursday morning after authorities gave evacuees in the area the all clear.