The fires burning in Colorado serve as a reminder of how dangerous wildfires are and how quickly they can spread. In South Carolina, outdoor burning of yard waste and brush is legal in counties when certain conditions are met, but some cities like North Myrtle Beach don't allow it.
Horry County is not only large, it also has plenty of fuel. Much of the land is for agriculture and forested.
"Today would be a bad day to burn because we have winds about ten miles an hour or greater and the humidity is in the thirties. Low humidity and high winds make for a recipe for disaster for outdoor burning," says Horry County Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Scott Thompson.
There's no red flag alert in place but Thompson hoped no one would burn yard debris today. In fact he encourages homeowners to take it to a recycling center instead.
"Recycling centers are set up to receive that type of stuff and we do recommend that they do take it there. It reduces the likelihood that there will be an out of control fire. And also the solid waste authority uses those things for mulches and they have a use for the material and it's not hazardous to the environment," he explains.
But many choose to burn yard waste instead and it's lead to wildfires like one last month off West Perry Road which ballooned to nearly 200 acres.
While Horry County can't issue a ticket for those who allow a fire to spread and cause massive damage, the State Forestry Commission will.
"People just need to be careful when they do burn. That's the thing we recommend the most. They do have a right to do that and we just want them to be careful," he adds.
That includes creating a fire break, having water on hand, and staying with it.
