Marking 15 years since 19,000 acre wildfire destroyed dozens of homes in Horry County

HORRY COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Monday marks 15 years since one of the most devastating fires in South Carolina history took place right across the border in Horry County.

The blaze, known as the Highway 31 fire, burned more than 19,000 acres and destroyed 76 homes.

Many other houses were damaged and thousands of people were forced to evacuate.

“The best ways to reduce wildfire risk are to be smart about burning and open flames, be mindful of vegetation near your home and to know what to grab should a wildfire impact your area and require you to evacuate quickly,” Horry County Emergency Management said.

The fire began as a small debris burn on private land east of Conway, according to the National Weather Service.