Horry County woods fire contained

Firefighters have contained and controlled a woods fire in Horry County.

Horry County Fire Rescue Spokesperson, Todd Cartner said the fire burned at Mile Marker 6 on SC 31.

Fire crews will remain in the area to monitor the fire.

No homes were damaged in the fire.

Fire officials are asking residents who live on the Wacobee Drive in Plantation Lakes Subdivision to turn on their sprinklers.

Cartner said around 1 p.m. Wednesday, a commercial truck driving down SC 31 lost a tire and sparks from the axle ignited several small fires in the woods along SC 31.

Firefighters responded to that fire, and had it contained in an area in the woods, but later, around 5:30 p.m., some hot spots inside the containment area flared-up, likely due to high winds, Cartner said.

HCFR called the South Carolina Forestry Commission because the fire spread deeper into the woods and firefighters worked on putting out the fire for several hours.  Just after 9 p.m., Carter said the fire was contained and under control.

Firefighters patrolled the Plantation Lakes subdivision for the night to monitor the fire.

Cartner said asking residents to wet their lawns during this fire, which burned about two and a half to three acres was a different request than often times telling residents not to water their lawns, like during the large woods fire on Highway 31 on April 22.  “That particular fire, you’re looking at a 20,000 acre fire, a several thousand degree acre fire, so the fire’s going to be hotter than any water that you would put on it, the water in the sprinkling system, the only thing that’s going to do is actually help control the embers that are going to be floating over, so with this particular fire, it’s a lot smaller, you’re not having that type of temperature so it’s definitely could help out with that particular instance.” 

Along with the dozens of firefighters on the scene, Carter said there were three forestry plows, two brush trucks, and five fire engines.

And shortly after the fire was ruled controlled and contained, the Forestry Commission sent this statement to News13, “Due fire activity in Horry County this week, the Forestry Commission will employ aerial surveillance and will ready additional ground units heading into the holiday weekend.  SCFC and local officials have been responding to small fires, occasionally in the containment lines of the Hwy 31 fire from April.  Incidents of “reburn” are normal, especially as scorched trees drop needles and trunks fall over creating more fuel.  A truck throwing sparks along Highway 31 and a lightening strike each ignited fires which the SCFC had to contain in Horry County this week.  With low humidity, high temperatures and the flurry of July 4 activities, cookouts, etc., it is likely there will be increased activity in the area of the Hwy 31 fire, as well as across the state where necessary.  The South Carolina Forestry Commission wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend.”