On March 2, firefighters in Myrtle Beach, S.C. responded to a flare-up. A woman, Alexandra Bialousow, 40, from Myrtle Beach, has been arrested and charged for allegedly starting a more than 2,000-acre wildfire last week in South Carolina. She is accused of negligently allowing the fire to spread and starting a fire in woodlands without taking proper precautions. Witnesses reported seeing Bialousow starting a fire in a backyard fire pit close to a tree line in the Covington Lakes Subdivision. The fire grew to become the Covington Drive Fire near Myrtle Beach, one of the largest wildfires in the state last week. The fire is now 55% contained. Dry conditions have fueled wildfires across the state, prompting evacuations. Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency and imposed a statewide burning ban. Bialousow is scheduled to appear in court on April 15 and could face up to 30 days imprisonment or fines if convicted.
