Crews battle massive wildfire near Myrtle Beach

A wildfire in South Carolina has grown to 1,600 acres and is only 30% contained, according to the state's Forestry Service.
Posted 3/3/2025, 2:41:44 PM Updated 3/3/2025, 6:58:05 PM

EVACUATION SHELTER AT THE POLK

COUNTY SENIOR CENTER.

>> A STATE OF EMERGENCY IS IN

EFFECT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE FIRST

RESPONDERS ARE TRYING TO

EXTINGUISH A WILDFIRE THERE.

THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY

COMMISSION SAYS THE WILDFIRE

HAS ESTIMATED TO BE

APPROXIMATELY 1600 ACRES.

PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED TO

EVACUATE THEIR HOMES NEAR

MYRTLE BEACH HAVE BEEN ALLOWED

TO RE ENTER OVERNIGHT. WE SPOKE

WITH FORMER WRAL NEWS EMPLOYEE

AND CURRENT WMBF REPORTER

STEVEN SCHLENK. HE'S BEEN

COVERING THE FIRE AND HE SAYS

FIREFIGHTERS ARE MOVING FAST

TO SAVE LIVES.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL THESE

FIRST RESPONDERS REALLY CROWDED

INTO THAT AREA STARTED GOING

DOOR TO DOOR AND PULLING PEOPLE

OUT OF THEIR HOMES, PEOPLE'S

PETS OUT OF THEIR HOMES, MAKING

TREAT THEM TO SEE PEOPLE KNEW

THAT THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY AS

YOU ALL ARE DEALING WITH THIS.

WELSH, THE CONDITIONS ARE THERE

FOR IT. WE JUST NEVER EXPECTED

TO SEE SOMETHING THIS BIG.

>> AND A SPOKESPERSON THERE

SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPORTS

OR TO OF DESTROYED HOMES OR