You’re sitting on the balcony of a high-rise, smelling the salt air, and suddenly, there it is. A thick, brownish-gray plume of smoke rising from the "west" side of the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a sight that has become unsettlingly common for locals and tourists alike. North Myrtle Beach fires aren't just a freak occurrence; they are a baked-in reality of living on the edge of the South Carolina wilderness.
Honestly, most people think "beach" and imagine sand and water. They don't think about the thousands of acres of highly flammable pine and "Carolina Bay" vegetation sitting just a few miles inland.
When the Covington Drive Fire ignited in March 2025, it wasn't a lightning strike or some act of god. It was a backyard debris burn that got out of hand. One woman, a fire pit, and a bit of wind. That’s all it took to scorch over 2,000 acres and keep firefighters busy for 82 days.
82 days. Think about that.
The fire wasn't fully "out" until late May 2025, when significant rainfall finally drowned the smoldering hotspots. This is the reality of the Grand Strand. It’s a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) nightmare where expensive subdivisions sit right next to "fuel" that hasn't burned in decades.
The Highway 31 Legacy and Why It Still Scares People
If you want to understand the local trauma regarding North Myrtle Beach fires, you have to talk about 2009. The Highway 31 Fire is the ghost that hangs over every smoke report in Horry County.
It was April. The winds were gusting at 30 mph. Humidity was in the teens. What started as a small woods fire turned into a 19,000-acre monster that jumped a four-lane highway like it wasn't even there.
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"I remember the sky turning orange at 2:00 in the afternoon," one local resident told me during a 2024 anniversary event. "It looked like the end of the world."
That fire destroyed 76 homes and damaged nearly 100 more. It cost $50 million. More importantly, it taught the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) that the geography of North Myrtle Beach is basically a tinderbox. The "Carolina Bays"—those oval depressions in the land filled with thick, waxy evergreen shrubs—act like gasoline once they catch.
What’s Actually Causing These Blazes?
It’s rarely a cigarette butt tossed out a window. Statistically, in South Carolina, the number one cause of wildfires is debris burning.
In the Covington Drive incident, authorities arrested Alexandra Bialousow, a 40-year-old resident, because she allegedly didn't have a water source or tools nearby to control her fire. It’s a sobering reminder. One afternoon of clearing brush can lead to a state of emergency.
Other common triggers in the area include:
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- Arson: Like the October 2024 fire at the North Myrtle Beach Drag Strip that leveled three buildings.
- Equipment sparks: Tractors or lawnmowers hitting a rock in dry grass.
- Power lines: Wind-blown branches hitting lines, a classic culprit in the 1985 Red Fox Road Fire.
The weather in 2025 and early 2026 has been a roller coaster. We’ve seen "critically dry fuels" combined with low humidity, which the National Weather Service constantly warns about. When you combine that with the "sea breeze" effect—which can shift wind direction 180 degrees in minutes—you get a fire that firefighters simply cannot predict.
The 2026 Outlook: Is the Risk Getting Worse?
Short answer: Kinda.
Climate data from 2026 suggests we are seeing more "fire weather days" than in the 90s. We’re talking about days where the temperature hits 95°F and the air is bone-dry. According to Risk Factor reports, about 98% of buildings in the Myrtle Beach area now face some level of wildfire risk.
It’s not just the heat. It’s the development.
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We keep building further into the woods. Every time a new "plantation" or "lakes" subdivision goes up, we are putting more people in the path of the next big one. The North Myrtle Beach Fire Department, led by officials like Fire Marshal Greg Frazier, has been pushing the "Fire Safe SC" program hard. They know they can't stop the fires from starting, so they’re trying to stop the houses from burning.
How to Not Lose Your House to a North Myrtle Beach Fire
If you live here, or you're thinking of moving here, "defensible space" isn't just a buzzword. It's the difference between a scorched lawn and a pile of ash.
First, look at your gutters. Pine needles are the enemy. They collect in the eaves and act as a fuse. One ember from a fire two miles away lands in those needles, and your roof is gone.
Second, check your plants. Those beautiful wax myrtles and palmettos? They are full of oil. If they’re touching your siding, you’ve basically wrapped your house in a fire-starter. You want at least five feet of "non-combustible" zone around the foundation. Think gravel or pavers instead of pine straw.
Third, get the apps.
- SCFC Fire Viewer: Shows every active burn in the state.
- CodeRED: Most local municipalities use this for emergency evacuations.
A Final Reality Check
The North Myrtle Beach fires of the last few years—from the drag strip arson to the massive Carolina Forest blaze—show a pattern. We are living in a beautiful, dangerous place. The state forestry commission doesn't just "put out" these fires; they often have to wait for "tropical downpours" to truly finish the job because the peat soil stays hot underground for months.
You shouldn't be terrified, but you should be prepared. The next time you see that smoke plume across the waterway, don't just watch it. Check the wind.
Your Next Steps:
- Check your property: Clear all pine needles and debris from your roof and gutters immediately.
- Verify your zone: Use the South Carolina Forestry Commission website to see if there is an active burn ban before you light a fire pit.
- Update your Go-Bag: Ensure you have physical copies of insurance documents in case of a rapid evacuation.