SC Wild Fires Damage upwards of $16 million

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Firefighters and rescue crews charge on Friday evening, battling a brutal wildfire that has consumed more than 20,000 acres of land across Horry County in the last 48 hours and displaced 4,500 people.

The affected area is more than 30 square miles and Gov. Mark Sanford estimates the damage will exceed $16 million.  The fire, officials say, is 50 percent contained as of Friday night....Continue Reading

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Emergency officials say a preliminary damage assessment for unincorporated areas of Horry County yield a total of 13 homes affected by the wildfire.  Five have been deemed a total loss, while one faces major damage and seven others have minor damage. 

The total damage estimate Friday for the 13 mobile homes is upwards of $174,200.  All damage was reported in the Woodlawn Drive area, just off of Highway 90.

Overnight Thursday into Friday morning, South Carolina Forestry Commission officials told WMBF News crews "back burned" roughly 500 acres in an attempt to keep a fire from entering the Carolina Forest area. They used the overnight areas because of the humidity, lower winds and lower temperatures making fires easier to control.

Officials say they are working on plan for operations beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, and updating as things change.

A big concern for Friday is the afternoon sea breeze fanning the flames, according to the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service. The site, as well as the fires at Sandy Island, are close to the coast and a strong sea breeze will likely produce 20 to 25 mph gusts in the afternoon. 

The wind direction will again push the flames inland.

Officials say the fire began in Conway in the Woodlawn subdivision along Highway 90 and spread towards North Myrtle Beach Wednesday night through Thursday morning.  The fire that officials say is 40 percent contained has destroyed 69 homes and damaged 100 others as of Thursday evening.

"This is heartbreaking," said Horry County Councilman Bob Grabowski. "But for every house that burned down, firefighters saved four or five."