Horry County Schools may adjust bus stops as wildfire impacts continue
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County Schools might adjust bus stops this week as the Grand Strand continues to deal with smoke in the aftermath of two large weekend wildfires in the Carolina Forest.
The potential adjustments come after many Grand Strand students and their parents woke up and headed to school and work amid a smoky haze created by weekend wildfires in the Carolina Forest area, the biggest of which covered 1,600 acres and is only 30% contained.
'All students arrived safely to school this morning, Horry County Schools spokesperson Lisa Bourcier told News13. 'Due to low visibility in several areas of the county, bus drivers moved cautiously with reduced speed.
'As anticipated, some buses arrived a bit late to school and bus loads were lighter than normal in the Carolina Forest attendance area. There may be modifications to transportation bus stops in the mornings and afternoons this week. The bus offices will communicate bus stop modifications as identified. Transportation delays this week are anticipated and the schools will accommodate late arrivals.'
Bourcier said school officials did their best to prepare for the smoky conditions before students arrived at school Monday morning.
'All school outside air units in the Carolina Forest area were shut off last night, which allowed the air to circulate and not filter in outside air,' she said. 'When the winds shifted south this morning, the same was done to other affected schools.'
Bourcier also expected that all HCS facilities have what are called Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization units. They use technology that 'safely creates and releases ions into the airstream using our existing HVAC system as the delivery method. The units safely filter particles including smoke, pollutants, dust, dander, pollen, pathogens such as mold, viruses, and bacteria.'
While students are at school, Bourcier said nurses are available to evaluate health issues. If a child is ill, they will be sent home with an excused absence.
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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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