South Carolina woman charged with starting Myrtle Beach wildfire in her backyard

USA Today

10-03-2025

South Carolina woman charged with starting Myrtle Beach wildfire in her backyard
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Wildfires in North and South Carolina burn near homes
Dozens of wildfires were burning in South Carolina prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency.
Police in South Carolina arrested a woman in connection with a wildfire that triggered evacuation orders and scorched thousands of acres of land near Myrtle Beach.
Alexandra Bialousow, 40, of Myrtle Beach, faces two charges related to accusations that she did not take proper precautions while burning debris in her backyard and negligently allowed the fire to spread well past her property line, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
The commission said witnesses reported seeing Bialousow start a fire in her backyard without "an appropriate water source readily available" and without "any garden tools on hand to control the fire."
Bialousow was released from custody on Friday, according to the Horry County bookings website. It's unclear if she is being represented by an attorney. She did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.
More: NY authorities investigate Long Island blazes as fire threatens central US
The so-called Covington Fire, which began on March 1, was one of hundreds of blazes that erupted across the Carolinas and the East Coast, from Georgia to New Jersey, as high winds impacted much of the eastern U.S.
Citing high winds, Horry County officials implemented a burn ban for unincorporated areas on Feb. 27. A statewide burn ban was implemented on March 1 and, as wildfires began breaking out across the state, Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency.
The Covington Fire forced officials to issue evacuation orders and open shelters across Carolina Forest, a small community west of Myrtle Beach. As of Sunday, the fire had burned 2,059 acres of land and was 55% contained, the commission said.
Nearly 85% of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans, whether unknowingly or intentionally, according to the National Parks Service. Common human causes include unattended campfires, the burning of debris, negligently discarding a cigarette or intentional acts of arson.