You're probably looking for a map of Myrtle Beach fires because you saw smoke on the horizon or heard a siren while grabbing coffee on Ocean Boulevard. It’s a common reaction. Honestly, when you’re in a place as beautiful as the Grand Strand, seeing a plume of black smoke against that blue Atlantic sky feels wrong. You want to know if it’s a brush fire, a house fire, or one of those massive wildfires that occasionally eat through the Carolina Forest.
The reality of "fire maps" in South Carolina is a bit fragmented. There isn't one single, magic Google Map that shows every single kitchen fire and forest blaze in real-time. You have to know where to look.
Where to Find the Most Accurate Map of Myrtle Beach Fires
If you want the absolute truth about what's burning right now, you have to go to the source. The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) maintains the gold standard. They have an interactive map that tracks every active wildfire in the state.
I’ve checked this map during high-risk seasons. It’s not just a bunch of red dots; it actually gives you the size of the fire in acres and how much of it is "contained." This is a huge distinction. A 100-acre fire that is 90% contained is a lot less scary than a 5-acre fire that is 0% contained and moving fast.
For house fires or structure blazes within city limits, it’s a different story. You won’t find those on the Forestry Commission map. For that, you’ve got to lean on local dispatch logs or "PulsePoint." PulsePoint is a cool app that many Horry County residents use. If Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR) gets a call, it pops up there. It basically turns your phone into a digital scanner.
Why Myrtle Beach is Prone to These Blazes
It’s the peat.
Most people don't realize that the land just a few miles inland from the beach is made of "Carolina Bays." These are unique elliptical depressions filled with organic soil. When this stuff gets dry, it doesn't just burn on the surface. It burns underground.
Back in March 2025, the Covington Drive Fire became a nightmare for this exact reason. It started in a backyard fire pit—allegedly because someone didn't have a garden hose nearby—and it ended up scorching over 2,000 acres. It took 82 days to call that fire "100% contained." Why? Because even after the flames on top were gone, the ground was still smoldering like a giant charcoal grill.
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Major Fires That Changed the Local Map
Looking at a map of Myrtle Beach fires over the last twenty years shows a pattern. We have "the big ones" that people still talk about at bars and grocery stores.
- The 1976 Clear Pond Fire: This is the legend. It burned 30,000 acres. To put that in perspective, the smoke column was 10,000 feet high and visible from space.
- The 2009 Highway 31 Fire: This one was personal for a lot of people. It destroyed 76 homes and caused $50 million in damage. If you drive along Highway 31 today, you can still see some of the "ghost trees" that never quite recovered.
- The 2025 Covington Drive Fire: As mentioned, this was the most recent wake-up call. It proved that even a small debris burn can shut down a major tourist destination if the wind catches it.
The waxy vegetation here—things like gallberry and wax myrtle—is basically nature’s version of gasoline. When you mix that with a "sea breeze front" that shifts winds suddenly in the afternoon, you get a recipe for a very fast-moving map.
How to Read a Fire Risk Map
When you see a map labeled with "KBDI" values, don't ignore it. KBDI stands for the Keetch-Byram Drought Index.
It’s a scale from 0 to 800.
0 means the ground is a swamp.
800 means it's a powder keg.
In Myrtle Beach, once that number creeps over 500, the Forestry Commission starts getting nervous. This is usually when you’ll see "Red Flag" alerts. A Red Flag isn't just a suggestion; it means that if a fire starts, the fire department might not be able to stop it before it hits a neighborhood.
What to do if you're caught in a fire zone
If you’re looking at a map and realizing the red zone is near your rental or home, stop scrolling.
- Check the Wind: In Myrtle Beach, the wind usually blows toward the ocean in the morning and away from it in the afternoon. This "sea breeze" can flip a fire's direction 180 degrees in minutes.
- CodeRED: Sign up for this. It’s the official emergency notification system for Horry County. They will literally call your phone if you need to evacuate.
- Don't Gawk: People love to drive toward the smoke to get a photo for Facebook. Don't be that person. You’re blocking the massive "bulldozers" (the Forestry Commission calls them tractor-plow units) that need to get in there to dig firebreaks.
The Future of Fire Tracking in Horry County
The technology is getting better. By 2026, we're seeing more drone integration. Instead of waiting for a spotter in a tower to see smoke, local agencies are using thermal imaging drones to map "hotspots" in the peat moss before they break the surface.
This means the map of Myrtle Beach fires you see online is becoming more "predictive" than "reactive." We can now see where the ground is heating up before the first flame even flickers.
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If you are planning a trip or you live here, keep the SCFC active fire map bookmarked. It’s the only way to stay ahead of the smoke.
Actionable Steps for Stay Safe
- Download PulsePoint: Select "Horry County Fire Rescue" to see real-time dispatches.
- Monitor the SCFC Dashboard: Check the "Current Wildland Fires in SC" link on their official site for the most accurate perimeter maps.
- Respect the Burn Ban: If the map shows high drought (KBDI over 500), do not light a fire pit. It’s not worth the risk of being the next headline.
- Clear Your "Home Ignition Zone": If you live near the Carolina Forest, rake those pine needles at least 30 feet away from your house.
Staying informed isn't about being scared; it's about being smart. The Grand Strand is a fire-dependent ecosystem, but that doesn't mean your vacation or your home has to be part of the landscape's cycle. Keep your eyes on the maps and your ears on the local news.