Wildfire Threatens Myrtle Beach Resort Area in South Carolina

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has declared a state of emergency for Horry County, where a raging wildfire has burned thousands of acres and already destroyed dozens of homes. So far, nearly 23 square miles, or 15,000 acres have been burned - and all of this in areas that practically run along the beaches of the Atlantic coastline. In recent years, wildfires in this type of area have been virtually non-existent or so small that firefighters have been able to rapidly contain them and minimize their damage.

There is no word at this time on the possible cause(s) of the blaze. The Barefoot Landing area, one of the most popular shopping and entertainment complexes in Myrtle Beach, is being immediately affected by the fire. The last major wildfire in the area is believed to have occurred in 1976.

The area currently affected is separated from the primary tourist destinations by the Intracoastal Waterway, although that provides only one natural boundary for the fire. At least three shelters have been established and evacuated residents have been left to watch the developments on television, amidst an increasingly dense layer of white smoke that is blanketing the area.