WILDFIRE UPDATE: 3/6/25 at 12:20 p.m.
Wind will potentially become an issue with response to the Covington Drive Fire today, as the Carolina Forest area dries out from the rain that fell yesterday.
The burn ban in the unincorporated areas of Horry County is still in place, and with the help of our partners at Horry County Police Department, it will be strictly enforced.
Flare-ups are expected, but Horry County Fire Rescue crews will be working with South Carolina Forestry Commission—both on the ground with plows and hand-line crews and in the air with aerial assets—toward more containment of the fire.
More recent figures from SCFC show 2,059 acres involved with this incident, and a 44% containment.
Water drops from the aerial assets should help with today's efforts, not only on dropping water on hot spots, but also providing aerial reconnaissance from the sky. When aerial assets see flare-ups or hot spots, they immediately report via radio to our strike teams to respond.
HCFR surveyed the fire ground post-storm and saw just a few compromised trees that had fallen. If possible, after aerial assets water drops cease operations for the day, HCFR Safety Officers will try to fly drones.
Structures around this fire have been successfully protected at this time, and crews will continue to reinforce lines, deploying sprinkler systems to saturate the ground, working to ensure we don't backslide on containment.
Out-of-Horry County assisting agencies have been instrumental in fighting this fire, supplying staffing and resources, helping in operations, resting and returning from where they came. We couldn't have made the progress we have at this point without them, as well as the support of HCPD, Horry County Sheriff's Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol partners.
While the offer of donations are appreciated, HCFR is currently well stocked with food, snacks, drinks and supplies at the Command Post at Station 39 (Carolina Forest.)
#HCFR