NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — South Carolina’s biggest wildfire in more than three decades — a blaze four miles wide — destroyed dozens of homes Thursday and threatened some of the area’s world-famous golf courses at the height of the spring tourist season.
The flames, fed by tinder-dry scrubland, leveled about 70 homes, damaged 100 others and forced about 2,500 people to flee.
The blaze scorched about 23 square miles over the past two days and then veered north. Authorities had not determined what sparked the flames.
Dense vegetation made the fire hard to fight, Horry County Fire Rescue spokesman Todd Cartner said. About 100 firefighters joined backhoes and six airplanes fighting the fire.
"We have the resources. We need to get a weather break,” said William Bailey, public safety director for North Myrtle Beach.
by the associated press
The flames, fed by tinder-dry scrubland, leveled about 70 homes, damaged 100 others and forced about 2,500 people to flee.
The blaze scorched about 23 square miles over the past two days and then veered north. Authorities had not determined what sparked the flames.
Dense vegetation made the fire hard to fight, Horry County Fire Rescue spokesman Todd Cartner said. About 100 firefighters joined backhoes and six airplanes fighting the fire.
"We have the resources. We need to get a weather break,” said William Bailey, public safety director for North Myrtle Beach.
by the associated press
