Humbling lesson in Horry County wildfires must be reminder to use resources

The lack of cooperation between state and local officials after the wildfires in Horry County has defied common sense more than two months after the tragedy.
The most destructive fire in state history did $40 million in property damage, destroyed 76 homes and damaged 97 others in April. Fortunately, no one was killed or injured.
Firefighters from the Pee Dee were a significant part of the firefighting team and performed heroically in cases. If our best and brightest are called into action, we want them to be part of a well-planned, coordinated and choreographed response.
In retrospect, state and local officials are turning reviews of the wildfire response into a blame game. Certainly, the fire tested state and local assets to the limit. But they should share credit and criticisms.
From our perspective, it’s unwise for local municipalities to ask the state Legislature to take responsibilities for firefighting away from the S.C. Forestry Commission. Remember, no lives were lost in this state of emergency.
Horry County officials have been adamant about poor communication with the state. They say state officials did not want to work with local officials, basically ignoring them.
The communication problems likely contributed to the damage in the Barefoot Resort area of North Myrtle Beach. Not enough radios linked personnel, and firefighters in the field were not well-trained in using communications equipment.
A task force assessed the fire and recommended more training. That must include the ability of state and local crews to interact.
The weather was a major factor in causing the wildfires to spread and flourish. One Pee Dee crew had to jump into a ravine and duck into personal shelters while flames soared over their heads.
But politicians are expressing disappointment with the state’s response. Horry County Councilman Al Allen said collaboration was lacking.
“My biggest concern is that when the wildfire broke, we set up our command center, and they came in and set up their own command down the road,” Allen told the Sun-News in Myrtle Beach. “They came in and did their own thing, separate from us.”
The lack of a coordinated response was embarrassing and potentially fatal. In fact, the fire spread rapidly, without warning. Residents went to sleep after hearing officials tell them not to worry. They awoke to flames in their backyards.
State officials tend to blame the weather for the problems. Local officials blame a lack of communication for exacerbating them.
Now, as officials try to improve for the next disaster, they are conducting separate reviews.
Talk about inefficiency. State officials must listen to local officials, and vice-versa. They do in the case of a hurricane and hurricane planning. There are specific roles set up for state and local agencies.
The chief of the forestry commission says he will release a report on the wildfire by midsummer. It should include specific roles for agencies in wildfires.
Meanwhile, taking away firefighting responsibilities from the state would be a mistake. The forestry commission has the experience, the equipment and the funds. And we believe it has the ability to improve communication.
Just this week, the North Myrtle Beach City Council made deep cuts to the public safety department that trains police and firefighters in responding to emergencies.
“It’s a decrease in discretionary, outside training,” Mayor Marilyn Hatley told the Sun-News, “not in essential training.”
The Horry wildfires were disastrous. They temporarily put dozens of Horry families into homeless shelters.
The most humbling lesson must be a reminder to use resources wisely and gather intelligence broadly.
A firefight is a not a game or a turf war.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).