South Carolina Woman Charged in Connection with 2,000-Acre Wildfire
Authorities in South Carolina have arrested and charged a 40-year-old Myrtle Beach woman in connection with a wildfire that burned more than 2,000 acres in early March.
Alexandra Bialousow faces one count of arson/negligently allowing fire to spread to lands of another and one count of regulation of fires on certain lands, according to Horry County records. The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) determined that a fire pit on Bialousow’s property allegedly sparked the Covington Drive Fire, which ravaged the area.
"Bialousow is accused of not taking the proper precautions to prevent her debris burn from escaping and negligently allowing fire to spread to ‘lands of another,’" the SCFC stated in a press release. Witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally start a fire in a backyard fire pit close to a tree line in the Covington Lakes Subdivision on March 1.
An arrest warrant revealed that Bialousow "did not have an appropriate water source readily available" nor "any garden tools on hand to control the fire," which allowed it to spread to land owned by the Walker Woods Homeowners Association.
Neighbors witnessed the fire beginning to spread, according to the warrant. Several neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest area were evacuated on March 1, though the evacuation order was lifted by Sunday. Fortunately, no structures were destroyed, and no injuries were reported.
If convicted, Bialousow could face imprisonment and fines. She has since been released from jail after posting a $7,500 bond.
The incident highlights the dangers of improperly managed fires, especially during dry conditions. The South Carolina Forestry Commission and other agencies continue to investigate and manage wildfire risks in the region.
Audrey Conklin, a digital reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, contributed to this report.
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