Myrtle Beach Woman Charged for Spark That Led to 2,000-Acre South Carolina Wildfire

South Carolina authorities have arrested a 40-year-old Myrtle Beach woman in connection with a wildfire that scorched over 2,000 acres on March 1. Alexandra Bialousow is facing charges for arson/negligently allowing fire to spread and for violating regulations on the use of fire on certain lands, according to Horry County records.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) pinpointed the origin of the massive blaze to a fire pit on Bialousow's property. Officials allege that she failed to take adequate precautions to keep her debris burn contained, leading to the 2,000-acre inferno known as the Covington Drive Fire.

According to an SCFC press release, witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally lighting a fire in a backyard fire pit dangerously close to a tree line in the Covington Lakes Subdivision. The arrest warrant further revealed that Bialousow lacked an appropriate water source or basic tools, like a garden rake or shovel, to manage the blaze. The fire ultimately spread to land owned by the Walker Woods Homeowners Association.

Neighbors reportedly watched the fire spread out of control, prompting evacuation orders for parts of the Carolina Forest area on March 1. Thankfully, those orders were lifted by Sunday, and no injuries or structural damage were reported—though nature didn't escape unscathed.

If convicted, Bialousow could face prison time and fines. She has already posted a $7,500 bond and is no longer in custody.

The incident comes as South Carolina and neighboring North Carolina grapple with an uptick in wildfires. Just this month, over 175 blazes have forced evacuations and underscored the dangers of improper fire management. A burn ban has since been issued in South Carolina to prevent further disasters.

While it’s a relief that no one was hurt, the scale of the damage is a sobering reminder that a little negligence can go a very long way—sometimes thousands of acres long.