On Monday, the South Carolina Forestry Commission reported that the Covington Drive wildfire that originated in a fire pit March 1 remains at 2,059 acres and is still considered 55% contained.
The agency says that crews successfully constructed additional firebreaks and bulldozer operators have cleared the way for crews to perform mop-up activities.
The State Forestry Commission cautions that air quality in the area is moderate today, and that those sensitive to smoke should consider reducing outdoor activity and going indoors if symptoms arise.
On March 6, a 40-year-old Myrtle Beach woman was arrested on two charges related to the escape of a residential yard debris burn that is alleged to have ignited the wildfire. According to the State Forestry Commission, witnesses reported seeing the woman intentionally start a fire in a backyard fire pit near a tree line within the Covington Lakes Subdivision. The arrest warrant states the suspect “did not have an appropriate water source readily available,” nor did she “have any garden tools on hand to control the fire, which caused the fire to spread to land owned by Walker Woods HOA."
