Thursday marks 12 years since destructive Hwy. 31 wildfire
Thursday marks 12 years since destructive Hwy. 31 wildfire By WMBF News Staff | April 22, 2021 at 10:27 AM EDT - Updated April 22 at 12:19 PM
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – On the 12-year anniversary of one of the most destructive wildfires in South Carolina history, firefighters are urging residents to use caution whenever they do outside burning.
The fire spread fast, scorching nearly 20,000 acres, destroying 76 homes and damaging 97 others. The flames forced 4,000 Horry County residents from their homes.
“Fortunately, no one was hurt during this incident, but the reason the fire started was that someone decided to burn debris and didn’t take the proper precautions to stay safe!” a Thursday post on the Myrtle Beach Fire Department’s Facebook page stated.