Horry County wildfire continues

The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) continues to fight the Highway 31 fire in Horry County today, a fire which has charred nearly 20,000 acres. Approximately 77 SCFC personnel are on the scene working long shifts to get the fire contained, in warm weather approaching 85 degrees. The SCFC team works to ensure the safety of its employees, but a the same time taking an aggressive approach to fighting the fire. When two employees has their motorized equipment bog down, they survived a close call with the wildfire by deploying their fire tent and riding out the tempest. Lots of firebreaks are being plowed ahead of the fire, which is moving in a northerly direction, and the SCFC is also setting back-fires to choke out available vegetation ahead of the wildfire. Of course so much depends on the winds in that area today, so its with a wait and see attitude that the SCFC pronounced that 50% of the fire is now contained. Also, today it was made official that the wildfire came from someone burning yard debris in Conway over the weekend without the proper permit, and they have been fined by the SCFC. Lowcountryoutdoors.com extends sympathies to those affected by this tragic wildfire.