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Carolina Forest Wildfire Fully Contained After Prolonged Battle

Aftermath of Carolina Forest Wildfire

News Summary

The Carolina Forest wildfire is now 100% contained after nearly three months of fighting the blaze that affected over 2,000 acres. Multiple resources were deployed to combat the flames, and although no homes were entirely destroyed, some suffered heat and smoke damage. A woman was arrested for allegedly causing the fire, which follows a burn ban in the area. Monitoring will continue to prevent flare-ups, highlighting ongoing wildfire challenges in the region.

South Carolina – The Carolina Forest wildfire has been declared 100% contained after nearly three months of battle against the blaze that started on March 1, 2025. The containment status was confirmed by the South Carolina Forestry Commission on May 21, 2025, following significant rainfall that helped to extinguish the stubborn fire, which burned for a total of 82 days and affected 2,059 acres of land in the Carolina Forest region.

No homes were completely destroyed in the fire; however, several residences suffered heat damage, and some residents experienced melted siding and smoke damage due to the fire’s close proximity. Evacuations were enforced in parts of eight neighborhoods during the wildfire’s most active phases to safeguard community residents, highlighting the fire’s potential threat to urban areas near Myrtle Beach.

In connection with the fire, law enforcement officials arrested a woman named Alexandra Bialousow for allegedly causing the blaze. According to reports, she ignited the fire by burning debris in a backyard fire pit while a burn ban was in effect. Bialousow has been charged with negligently allowing fire to spread to lands of another and is currently pursuing a jury trial.

Throughout the firefighting efforts, a variety of resources were deployed, including aircraft, bulldozers, and brush trucks to combat the spread of flames. Despite these efforts, the fire presented challenges due to the presence of persistent underground hot spots, rendering some standard firefighting techniques, like sprinkler and handline methods, ineffective.

While the fire is now classified as 100% contained, monitoring will continue in the area to prevent any flare-ups and to ensure the situation remains stable. The South Carolina Forestry Commission emphasized the distinction between a fire being “contained” and “controlled,” stressing that further supervision is essential even after the flames were extinguished.

The dry conditions that have plagued the region played a significant role in exacerbating the wildfire situation. These severe weather conditions contributed to flare-ups and complicated firefighting efforts. During the active phase of the wildfire, Horry County Fire Rescue focused on continuously monitoring seasonal weather patterns, and community cooperation was crucial in managing the situation effectively.

During the fire incident, Horry County had implemented a burn ban due to heightened fire risks, making violations of this ban punishable by arrest. Authorities noted that the Carolina Forest wildfire was one of over 175 wildfires reported across North and South Carolina earlier in March, demonstrating the scale of wildfire challenges faced in the region. Thankfully, all fires within North Carolina’s national parks were successfully contained by the U.S. Forest Service, underscoring the efforts made to maintain public safety during this challenging wildfire season.

As firefighters wrap up their active firefighting roles, they remain vigilant in patrolling the area, ensuring that the wildfire does not reignite and that residents can return to normalcy, confident in the safety of their homes.