Wildfires blew quickly through one of the coastal regions of South Carolina on Thursday and encroached upon North Myrtle Beach. Along the way, the Myrtle Beach fires destroyed over 40 homes and over 2,500 were forced evacuate.
Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina, has declared a state of emergency in Horry County, where Myrtle Beach lies.
Thus far, there have been no reported injuries, however, the Myrtle Beach fires crossed over a freeway and were quickly descending upon a dense residential area, prompting the lightning-quick evacuations. Local schools and businesses also had to be closed in North Myrtle Beach.
Total evacuations: 2500
Evacuation Locations: North Myrtle Beach City Hall and the House of Blues
Cause of fire: unknown
Says local WISHTV:
Adding to the problem were heavily vegetated patches called Carolina Bays that caught fire and fueled the blaze. 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.
Here is coverage of the South Carolina fires that has been up loaded to YouTube…
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