News and Announcements

Horry County, South Carolina - Did you know, in less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire? Your risk of injury or death in a home fire changes with age. If you have young children or older adults living in your home, they may need your help to stay safe. Here are some important ways to keep your home and your loved ones safe from fire.

Fire Safety If You Smoke

• Smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths for adults 65 and over. It is also the third leading cause of fire injuries for older adults
• If you smoke, smoke outside.
• Never smoke in bed, while drowsy, or while under the influence of medication or alcohol.
• Use deep, sturdy ashtrays.

• Before you throw out your cigarette butts and ashes, make sure they are completely cool. Put them in water or a can that is filled with sand.
• Check furniture and places where people smoke for smoldering cigarette butts and ashes—especially before going to bed.
• Never smoke where medical oxygen is used, even if it is turned off.
• Keep smoking materials, including lighters and cigarettes, up high and out of the reach of children. Use child safety locks where you store your smoking materials.

Fire Safe Cooking

Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires in America. Many older adults also experience burn-related injuries during cooking. Prevent fires and burns by being watchful and alert when you cook.

• Don’t cook if you are sleepy, have consumed alcohol, or have taken medicine or drugs that make you drowsy.
• Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly. Remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• Keep cooking surfaces clean and free from anything that can catch fire.
• Never lean over a lit burner.
• Wear short, close-fitting or tightly rolled sleeves while cooking. Loose clothing can catch fire if it touches a gas flame or an electric burner.
• Check the kitchen after you finish cooking. Make sure the oven, burners, and other appliances are off.

• If a fire starts, stay calm and get out. Once out, call 9-1-1 from a cell phone or a neighbor’s telephone. Have an outside meeting place a safe distance in front of your house where first responders can see you.

Practice Electrical Safety

Older homes are more likely to catch fire from electrical causes than newer homes. Older wiring may not have the capacity to safely handle newer appliances and equipment and may not have updated safety features.

• Electrical work should only be done by a licensed electrician.
• Check all electrical appliances often. Replace cracked, damaged, and loose electrical cords.
• Replace outlets if plugs do not fit snugly or the outlet does not accept plugs with one blade larger than the other.
• Major appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.) should be plugged directly into a wall outlet.
• Plug only one high-wattage appliance into an outlet at a time, even if the outlet has space for two plugs.
• Avoid using extension cords. Have a licensed electrician determine if additional outlets are needed.
• Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) shut off electricity when a dangerous situation occurs. Have a licensed electrician install them in your home.
• Find reasons for blown fuses and tripped circuit breakers. Have a licensed electrician inspect and correct the problem.
• Use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or light fixture.

Every year in America nearly 3,000 people die in home fires. Many of these people die in homes that do not have working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms warn you and your family when there is a fire. They can save your life!

As always, if there is a fire emergency, call 9-1-1 as soon as possible and remain outdoors. Never return inside a burning building to retrieve an item.

Horry County, SC - - Did you know that home fires occur more in the winter than in any other season? Half of all home heating fires occur in the months of December, January, and February. With cold weather in the forecast, and the upcoming winter season approaching, Horry County Fire Rescue would like to remind residents to follow these heating tips to help maintain a fire-safe home:

Space Heater

·      Keep anything that can burn, such as bedding, clothing, and curtains, at least 3 feet away from the heater.

·      Make sure the heater has an automatic shut-off, so if it tips over, it shuts off.

·      Turn heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.

·      Plug portable heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.

·      Only use portable heaters from a recognized testing laboratory.

Fireplace

·      Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace to prevent embers or sparks jumping out.

·      Do not burn paper in your fireplace.

·      Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.

·      Put ashes in a metal container with a lid, outside, at least 10 feet from your home.

Wood Stove

·      Make sure your wood stove is 3 feet from anything that can burn.

·      Do not burn paper in your wood stove.

·      Put the fire out before you go to sleep or leave your home.

·      Have your chimney inspected and cleaned each year by a professional.

Furnace

·      Have your furnace inspected each year.

·      Keep anything that can burn away from the furnace.

Kitchen oven

·      Do not use a kitchen oven to heat the home. It is not designed to heat large areas, and the element may fail which could cause a fire.

Portable Generators

·      Portable generators are commonly used in the winter as a result of storm-induced power outages. Carbon monoxide fumes are odorless and deadly. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to prevent death from carbon monoxide.

·      Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows, and vents.

·      Make sure you have carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.

·      Do not use a generator in a wet area. This can cause shock or electrocution.

·      Connect appliances to the generator with heavy-duty extension cords.

·      Do not fuel your generator when it is running. Spilling gas on a hot engine can cause a fire.

Heating pads and electric blankets also pose a fire risk, especially if more than 10-years old. Do not place anything on top of either device when in use, this includes other blankets or pets. Never fold electric blankets or use while sleeping.

Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of your home and inside and outside sleeping areas. You should test your smoke alarm each month. Also, lightly dust or vacuum your smoke alarm after each test. Smoke alarms should be completely replaced every 10-years. Your family should plan and practice a home escape plan during your monthly smoke alarm testing routine.

Lastly, if there is a fire emergency, call 9-1-1 as soon as possible and remain outdoors. Never return inside a burning building to retrieve an item.

Conway, South Carolina – The Horry County Animal Care Center (HCACC) will hold a vaccination clinic, November 13, 2018, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the shelter located at 1923 Industrial Park Road in Conway. The following services will be offered:

• Distemper/Parvo                  $10--must be at least 8-weeks old (canine)
• Bordatella                             $10--must be at least 8-weeks old (canine)
• Rabies                                   $10--must be at least 4-months old (canine & feline)
• Microchip                               $15--must be at least 8-weeks old (canine & feline)
• Rhinotracheitis/Calici            $10--must be at least 8-weeks old (feline)

Dogs and cats are both welcome; dogs must be on a hand-held leash and cats must be in a pet carrier.

The Animal Care Center also holds low-cost spay/neuter clinics, which are open to all residents of Horry County. The cost for cats is $50 and dogs are $80 (discounted fees are available for residents receiving government assistance). Contact the HCACC for more information or to make an appointment.

To help homeless animals find loving homes, the HCACC offers discounted adoptions the first Friday and Saturday of each month. The discounted fee typically includes spaying/neutering, vaccines, heartworm or leukemia testing, heartworm and flea preventative, intestinal parasite treatment and microchipping. Qualifying new pet parents also get 30-days free pet health insurance and coupons from local pet businesses. 

To view animals currently available for adoption, stray intakes or for more information on the monthly clinics, contact the Horry County Animal Care Center at 843-915-5172, follow us on Facebook, or visit our website.

Effective immediately, Horry County Government has lifted the outdoor burning ban for the unincorporated areas of Horry County.  We ask that you continue to follow all Burning Regulations set forth by the South Carolina Forestry Commission, which can be located at http://www.state.sc.us/forest/fire.htm. All open burning in Horry County requires you to contact the South Carolina Forestry Commission at 1-800-986-5404, before the burn is started.

We remind our citizens that where the burn ban is not in place, we ask their consideration and due diligence when actively involved in open burning. Always remember to lean on the side of safety, and do not burn in windy or dry conditions.

For more information, contact Horry County Fire Rescue at 843-915-7066.

Effective immediately, Horry County Government has lifted the outdoor burning ban for the unincorporated areas of Horry County.  We ask that you continue to follow all Burning Regulations set forth by the South Carolina Forestry Commission, which can be located at http://www.state.sc.us/forest/fire.htm. All open burning in Horry County requires you to contact the South Carolina Forestry Commission at 1-800-986-5404, before the burn is started.

We remind our citizens that where the burn ban is not in place, we ask their consideration and due diligence when actively involved in open burning. Always remember to lean on the side of safety, and do not burn in windy or dry conditions.

For more information, contact Horry County Fire Rescue at 843-915-7066.