Latest news with #Bialousow
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘They lied:' Attorney of woman charged with sparking Carolina Forest wildfire has proof of her innocence, he says
CAROLINA FOREST, S.C. (WBTW) — An attorney representing the woman charged with sparking the March 1 Carolina Forest wildfire says his client is being scapegoated by Horry County and The South Carolina Forestry Commission. He says he has proof investigators are lying. Alexandra Bialousow, 40, is charged with negligently allowing fire to spread to lands of another and a regulation of fire violation. She's out on a $15,000 bond after being arrested on March 6. In a video posted to TikTok, Bialousow's lawyer, Jonny McCoy, made several bold accusations, questioning the urgency of firefighters in the first moments responding to Bialousow's home. He also says authorities lied about evidence to justify charging her. 'They lied about her not having gardening tools. They lied about her not having a water hose, and they lied about her not having any gardening tools,' McCoy said. 'That's why I get hired .. is when you start to see they are scapegoating somebody.' In the TikTok clip, McCoy shares photos he says shows tools near Bialousow's fire pit. He claims the tools were next to the fire pit on March 1 before and during the small fire that authorities say sparked the massive Carolina Forest Fire. As News13 has reported, the state Forestry Commission said she didn't. When we asked McCoy when the fire pit photos were taken, he said he requested them from Bialousow after she became his client. News 13 notes that a wide angle photo of the fire pit shows trees behind it that don't appear to be burned. McCoy also said Biaousow's stone fire pit qualified as an exception to a statewide burn ban, because it's made of stone and built into the hard. Another clip on McCoy's TikTok video, shows footage of who appears to be Alexandra Bialousow using a garden hose to spray down trees that had caught fire in what appears to be her backyard. The video, McCoy said, was taken by somebody at her house on March 1. He says it disproves the allegation that there wasn't an available water source near her fire pit. News13 has reached out to both Horry County and state forestry officials for a response to McCoy's claims. Local officials deferred to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, which said it doesn't comment on ongoing litigation. McCoy told News13 on Monday that Bialousow is the victim of a yearslong pattern of corruption in Horry County. 'I have been trying cases for 15 years in Horry County, South Carolina, Columbia and all around the state and one thing that everybody knows without fail is that authorities in this area lie and exaggerate in an effort to make somebody look more guilty, or not guilty at all,' he said. 'And if they're investigated for it, nothing happens.' McCoy said Bialousow is considering a defamation lawsuit, once her current legal battle is resolved. He says insinuations by the forestry commission and local media outlets that Bialousow violated a statewide burn ban are false and dangerous. He says the single mom of two has received threats and has been placed on administrative leave from her job. 'She's gotten threats. There are still comments saying she's an idiot. That she deserves to be held liable and accountable for all 2,000 acres. It is going to take everybody realizing that there is video evidence out there, completely to the contrary,' McCoy said. 'The authorities are going to have to step up and say, 'you know what, we made a mistake.' They'll never do that though, before she would be able to made even partly whole again.' It's important to note that McCoy said the video he posted on TikTok of the firepit was shot after Bialousow became his client. Trees behind the pit show no signs of being burned. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Myrtle Beach woman ignited South Carolina wildfire that scorched 2K acres, authorities say
South Carolina authorities have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Myrtle Beach woman in connection with a fire that burned more than 2,000 acres around March 1. Alexandra Bialousow is charged with one count of arson/negligently allowing fire to spread to lands of another and one count of regulation of fires on certain lands, according to Horry County records. South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) law enforcement officials determined that a fire pit on Bialousow's property allegedly ignited the 2,000-acre Covington Drive Fire. "Bialousow is accused of not taking the proper precautions to prevent her debris burn from escaping and negligently allowing fire to spread to 'lands of another.' Witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally start a fire in a backyard fire pit that was in close proximity to a tree line within Covington Lakes Subdivision on March 1," SCFC said in a press release. 175 Wildfires In North And South Carolina Force Some Evacuations An arrest warrant states that the suspect "did not have an appropriate water source readily available," nor "any garden tools on hand to control the fire, thus allowing the fire to spread to land owned by Walker Woods HOA." Read On The Fox News App Multiple Wildfires In The Carolinas Force Evacuations, Burn Ban Issued In South Carolina Several neighbors witnessed the fire start to spread, according to the warrant. Woman Accused Of Looting From Home In Palisades Fire Area While Wearing 'Palisades Strong' Shirt Certain neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest area were evacuated on March 1, but the order was lifted on Sunday. No structures were destroyed, and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. If convicted, Bialousow would face possible imprisonment and fines. She has since been released from jail after posting $7,500 article source: Myrtle Beach woman ignited South Carolina wildfire that scorched 2K acres, authorities say
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Myrtle Beach woman ignited South Carolina wildfire that scorched 2K acres, authorities say
South Carolina authorities have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Myrtle Beach woman in connection with a fire that burned more than 2,000 acres around March 1. Alexandra Bialousow is charged with one count of arson/negligently allowing fire to spread to lands of another and one count of regulation of fires on certain lands, according to Horry County records. South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) law enforcement officials determined that a fire pit on Bialousow's property allegedly ignited the 2,000-acre Covington Drive Fire. "Bialousow is accused of not taking the proper precautions to prevent her debris burn from escaping and negligently allowing fire to spread to 'lands of another.' Witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally start a fire in a backyard fire pit that was in close proximity to a tree line within Covington Lakes Subdivision on March 1," SCFC said in a press release. 175 Wildfires In North And South Carolina Force Some Evacuations An arrest warrant states that the suspect "did not have an appropriate water source readily available," nor "any garden tools on hand to control the fire, thus allowing the fire to spread to land owned by Walker Woods HOA." Read On The Fox News App Multiple Wildfires In The Carolinas Force Evacuations, Burn Ban Issued In South Carolina Several neighbors witnessed the fire start to spread, according to the warrant. Woman Accused Of Looting From Home In Palisades Fire Area While Wearing 'Palisades Strong' Shirt Certain neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest area were evacuated on March 1, but the order was lifted on Sunday. No structures were destroyed, and no injuries were reported as a result of the fire. If convicted, Bialousow would face possible imprisonment and fines. She has since been released from jail after posting $7,500 article source: Myrtle Beach woman ignited South Carolina wildfire that scorched 2K acres, authorities say
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
South Carolina woman charged with starting Myrtle Beach wildfire in her backyard
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 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 United States. 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. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Woman charged with starting Myrtle Beach wildfire in her backyard
USA Today
10-03-2025
- USA Today
South Carolina woman charged with starting Myrtle Beach wildfire in her backyard
South Carolina woman charged with starting Myrtle Beach wildfire in her backyard Show Caption Hide Caption 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.
