Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff's Office may have to evacuate more residents living near a huge fire near Bishopville.
Monday night, the Department of Health and Environmental Control recommended mandatory evacuations for five or six houses located close to the fire due to the smoke.
The fire has been burning inside a man-made pit for 26 hours off of Red Hill Road near I-20.
Deputies say the pit is being used as an landfill and is filled with household garbage, as well as commercial and industrial waste.
Firefighters have used 160,000 gallons of water, but weren't able to extinguish the flames, so they're letting it burn out.
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Fire at SC landfill prompts voluntary evacuation
BISHOPVILLE, S.C. (AP) - A fire at a garbage dump in central South Carolina prompted officials to call for a voluntary evacuation of nearby residents.
Multiple media outlets reported the fire started at the landfill about 12 miles west of Bishopville about 3 p.m. Monday.
Officials say about 50 people went to an emergency shelter at West Lee Elementary School.
Lee County Fire Lt. Brandon Holloman says the landfill was filled with household garbage, commercial and industrial waste.
Holloman says firefighters from Lee, Kershaw and Sumter counties used 160,000 gallons of water and were unable to extinguish the flames. Holloman said officials are letting it burn out.
The Department of Health and Environmental Control was monitoring air quality in the area and recommended that those with respiratory problems stay away.
