You’re sitting on a balcony at a high-rise resort, smelling the salt air, maybe sipping a drink. Then you catch a whiff of something that isn’t a charcoal grill or ocean spray. It’s wood smoke. Thick, acrid, and surprisingly close. Most people think of wildfires in Myrtle Beach as a fluke or something that only happens out West in California’s dry canyons. They’re wrong.
South Carolina actually has a "fire season." It usually peaks in late winter and early spring.
The reality is that Horry County is one of the most fire-prone areas in the state. It’s a weird mix of geography and rapid development. You have these massive stretches of "Carolina Bays"—elliptical depressions filled with peat and dense shrubbery—sitting right next to multi-million dollar housing developments. When that peat catches, it doesn't just flame up. It glows. It smolders for weeks. It’s a nightmare for local firefighters because you can’t just douse it and walk away.
Why the Grand Strand is a Powder Keg
It’s the pine trees. Longleaf and loblolly pines are everywhere. They are beautiful, sure, but they’re basically giant matchsticks filled with resin. When we go through a dry spell in March or April, and the "Westerlies" kick up, those pine needles become tinder.
I remember the Highway 31 fire back in 2009. That was the big one. It destroyed dozens of homes and burned thousands of acres. People were evacuated from North Myrtle Beach and Barefoot Landing. It wasn't just a woods fire; it was a crown fire, jumping from treetop to treetop, fueled by high winds. That event changed how the South Carolina Forestry Commission looks at the coast.
The problem is the "Wildland-Urban Interface," or WUI. Basically, we keep building houses where the woods used to be. When you put a vinyl-sided house three feet away from a dense thicket of wax myrtle and pine, you’re asking for trouble.
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The Role of Peat and "Duff"
Peat is the secret villain here.
In places like the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, the ground isn’t just dirt. It’s organic matter that has piled up for centuries. During a drought, the water table drops. The ground itself becomes flammable. A lightning strike or a tossed cigarette can start a fire underground.
Firefighters call these "ground fires." You might see smoke coming out of the dirt 50 feet away from where the actual flames are. It’s eerie. It also makes extinguishing wildfires in Myrtle Beach incredibly resource-intensive. You have to use bulldozers to plow "fire lines" down to the mineral soil to stop the spread.
The Impact on Your Vacation
If you’re visiting, a wildfire doesn't just mean "stay away from the woods." It means the air quality goes to zero. Fast.
Because Myrtle Beach is on the coast, the sea breeze plays games with the smoke. During the day, the wind might blow the smoke inland. At night, as the land cools, the smoke drifts back toward the ocean. If you have asthma or COPD, this is a genuine health crisis.
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- Visibility: Smoke can shut down Highway 31, Highway 22, and even parts of Business 17.
- Ash Fall: I’ve seen pool decks in Carolina Forest covered in gray ash that looks like snow. It’s corrosive to car paint if you don’t wash it off.
- Closures: State parks like Myrtle Beach State Park or Huntington Beach might close if a fire is nearby to keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles.
Real Examples of Recent Activity
In 2022, there was a significant fire near Carolina Forest that forced evacuations and turned the sky orange. People were panicked because the smoke was so thick they couldn't see the car in front of them. More recently, controlled burns—which are necessary to prevent the big fires—sometimes get out of hand or simply alarm tourists who don't know what’s happening.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) manages these "prescribed burns" to clear out the undergrowth. If they don't do it, the fuel builds up. Then, when a real fire starts, it's unstoppable.
Misconceptions About Coastal Fires
People think the humidity saves us. It doesn't.
Actually, the humidity can drop significantly during a "Red Flag" day. When the wind comes from the Northwest, it’s dry. It sucks the moisture out of the pine needles in hours. Another myth? That the beach is a "safe zone." While the sand won't burn, the embers from a forest fire can travel over a mile in high winds. Those embers land on a pine-straw mulch bed in front of a hotel, and suddenly you have a structure fire in the middle of a concrete jungle.
How to Stay Safe and Informed
You have to be proactive. Don't rely on the local news to catch up; they’re often twenty minutes behind the actual spread.
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- Download the SCFC App: The South Carolina Forestry Commission has maps showing active fires and burn bans.
- Check the Air Quality: Use AirNow.gov. If the index hits orange or red, stay inside with the AC on "recirculate."
- Respect Burn Bans: If the county says no outdoor burning, they mean it. That includes those little portable fire pits at your campsite.
- Watch the Winds: If you see smoke and the wind is blowing toward you, have a bag packed. It sounds dramatic until you’re the one stuck in a gridlocked evacuation.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is pay attention to the "Fire Danger" signs you see on the side of the road. They aren't just for show. If it says "Very High" or "Extreme," stay alert.
What to Do If You’re Caught in Smoke
If you’re driving and hit a smoke bank, slow down immediately. Do not slam on your brakes. Turn on your low-beam headlights—high beams will just reflect off the smoke and make it worse. If it's too thick to see, pull over as far as possible and turn off your lights so people don't follow you off the road thinking you're still moving.
Actionable Steps for Property Owners and Visitors
If you own a rental property or a home in the area, you need to think about "Defensible Space."
Clear the pine needles off your roof. Seriously. A single ember in a gutter full of dry needles is how most houses are lost in wildfires in Myrtle Beach. Swap out pine straw mulch for river rock or hardwood mulch, which doesn't ignite as easily.
For visitors, check the weather forecast for "Red Flag Warnings" before you head out for a hike in the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. If a warning is in effect, pick a different day. The woods will still be there later, and you won't risk being the person who gets trapped on a dead-end trail.
Check your local weather apps for "Smoke Outlooks." These are specialized forecasts that show where the plume is headed over the next 24 to 48 hours. It can help you decide whether to spend the day at the beach or head inland to Conway or Florence to get some clean air.
Stay vigilant, keep your phone charged for emergency alerts, and never underestimate how fast a swamp can turn into a furnace.