Evacuees Return To Barefoot Resort As Crews Continue Battling Wildfire

Evacuations continued Thursday night in parts of Horry County even as hundreds of residents and vacationers returned to their homes in Barefoot Landing after being forced out overnight by a massive wildfire.

The fire stretches across an area from Water Tower Road north to Long Bay Road and from the Intracoastal Waterway to Highway 90.

According to the S.C. Forestry Commission, homes along S.C. 90 and S.C. 22 and areas around Long Branch Road were threatened Thursday afternoon by the fire. The south side of S.C. 31 also is threatened.

Authorities at the Horry County Emergency Operations Center said 30 homes on Strawberry Road & Cherry Circle in the Wampee Area were evacuated Thursday afternoon.

Officials warned that the smoke in the fire area will potentially lay close to the ground from 8:00 p.m. Thursday night through 11 a.m. Friday morning. Extreme caution should be exercised as there may be extremely low visibility. Officials say additional roads may need to be closed due to this smoke cover.
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.

Citizens with special medical needs can contact the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control at 915-4861 regarding Special Medical Needs shelters.

Businesses wishing to donate food and/or water for fire fighters and evacuees, should contact Natalie with the South Carolina Disaster Relief Association at 803-319-0385(prior to bringing the items to the field) Only donations from businesses can be accepted at this time. 

Citizens wishing to assist the relief effort should make monetary donations to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley said community members had stepped up and made about 500 homes available to those displaced by the fire.

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.

Sanford will travel to Horry County on Friday to assess the destruction and efforts to put the fire out.