Latest news with #SoutheasternForestFireCompact
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Covington Drive fire remains 55% contained into eighth day of response as Florida team takes command
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A Florida-based incident management team has taken over operations at the Covington Drive fire, which remains 55% contained eight days after igniting in a Carolina Forest neighborhood, officials said. 'This will give SC Forestry Commission firefighters the opportunity to get some much-needed rest and then be available to fight fires back in their home units,' the agency said in a news release. Still holding at 2,059 acres, crews planned to spend Saturday reinforcing firebreaks, suppressing hot spots and patrolling containment lines. Horry County spokeswoman Mikayla Moskov said earlier in the day operations are 'moving in a positive direction,' with hot spots primarily inside peat within the Carolina Bays wetlands. South Carolina, Florida and 11 other states are a part of the Southeastern Forest Fire Compact, which allows for firefighting personnel and resources to be shared across state lines, the Forestry Commission said. Activation of the compact is a common practice employed by forestry agencies throughout the south and across the country to bolster firefighting efforts in areas that are experiencing unusually high or otherwise extraordinary fire activity. South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters also go to other states, particularly out west, every year to assist on large wildfire incidents that would otherwise overwhelm local resources. All certified wildland firefighters and incident command system (ICS)-trained personnel, regardless of home state or agency, train to the same standards and under the same framework so that they can fall in seamlessly on any incident. Georgetown and Horry counties remain under a burn ban. * * * 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
28-member Florida incident-management team assisting Carolina Forest firefighting efforts
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — An incident management team from the Florida Forest Service will be joining South Carolina Forestry Commission personnel in the ongoing effort to suppress the Covington Drive Fire near Myrtle Beach. The 28-member Florida team was requested to provide additional overhead on the 2,000+ acre wildfire, the Forestry Commission said in a news release. This will ensure the Forestry Commission can maintain an adequate level of public safety around the state amid higher-than-usual wildfire activity. Some Forestry Commission personnel and resources from other parts of the state who have been helping out during the Carolina Forest fire will be able to return to their home units where fire prevention and suppression is still needed. South Carolina, Florida and 11 other states are a part of the Southeastern Forest Fire Compact, which allows for firefighting personnel and resources to be shared across state lines, the Forestry Commission said. Activation of the compact is a common practice employed by forestry agencies throughout the south and across the country to bolster firefighting efforts in areas that are experiencing unusually high or otherwise extraordinary fire activity. South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters also go to other states, particularly out west, every year to assist on large wildfire incidents that would otherwise overwhelm local resources. All certified wildland firefighters and incident command system (ICS)-trained personnel, regardless of home state or agency, train to the same standards and under the same framework so that they can fall in seamlessly on any incident. 'All of our South Carolina IMT personnel and firefighters undergo regular training for exactly these kinds of special assignments,' said state Forestry Commission Forest Protection Chief Darryl Jones. 'Not only do they provide much-needed help, but they also bring that valuable ICS experience with them back to South Carolina.' The Florida complex incident management team will begin work on Friday, providing firefighting personnel, incident commanders, planning chiefs, operations specialists and support staff, all of whom are trained to handle high-pressure wildfire situations that demand a coordinated and strategic response. Forestry Commission firefighters in dozers, firetracks and wildland fire engines will remain on the fireline conducting direct wildfire suppression, and a contingent of SCFC IMT members will stay on board as well to form a combined interagency team. * * * 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.
