Monday, March 10, 2025, Carolina Forest-area Wildfire Update

After a week of assistance by fire-rescue organizations from across the Carolinas at the Covington Drive Fire Carolina Forest, most of which was provided through the state Firefighter Mobilization plan, demobilization is complete and most outside-agency firefighters have returned home.

Now, Horry County Fire Rescue crews are joined by teams from the Florida Forest Service who've replaced @forestrycommish team in incident command in continuing to work on this incident, which is still very much active.

Latest figures showed 55% containment, with 2,059 acres involved. For updates on these figures, visit SCFC live fire response map, which can be found here: https://scfc.firesponse.com/public/.

Rain continues to suppress hot spots, which is helpful, naturally.

Rain will also muddy the fireground and somewhat limit the ability for brush trucks and pickup trucks to move about off-road and inside the woods.

Crews have been rehabilitating equipment, checking lines and making sure sprinklers are flowing as effectively as intended, constantly monitoring this wildfire's behavior. 

HCFR's Wildfire Team in on the fire ground with 10 personnel, using three brush trucks, one tanker and one engine for these efforts to supplement the more than 60 Florida Forestry Service personnel dedicated to this incident.

Air drops from aerial assets are expected to continue for at least the next few days, and then, after that, upon request.

HCFR will fly drones about the incident when possible to survey for hot spots, fire line break strength and more, using this collected reconnaissance information to plan operations and response.

REMINDER: Per SCFC, there is a temporary flight restriction (TFR) in the area of the Covington Drive Fire, disallowing any drones from flying in this air space. Doing so is illegal.

Smoke will continue to remain visible for some time in the Carolina Forest-area and surrounding neighborhoods, sometimes lighter and sometimes denser, depending on current weather and atmospheric conditions. Residents and people in the area may see smoke and possibly hot spots. Currently, all structures are being protected, and most reported hot spots are located within contained areas. In the event you see active fire, we’re still encouraging residents to call this into 911 so we can be dispatched to investigate.

There is a strictly enforced burn ban in the unincorporated areas of Horry County. It was put into place on Thursday, February 27, 3:25 p.m. Do not engage in open burning until that ban has been lifted. If you wish to see the immediate status of the burn ban, check here: https://www.horrycountysc.gov/departments/fire-rescue/. 

We will continue to share updates on this fire when we have pertinent information to share.

We are humbled by the continued support of the public and our #PublicSafetyPartners on this incident. It means the world to us.

#HCFR