We fact-checked social media theories about Carolina Forest wildfire. Here’s what to know
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South Carolina Wildfires
Wildfires impacted more than 1,600 acres in the Myrtle Beach area, with flames burning within a few feet of homes in communities close to Carolina Forest.
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Viral videos have popped up on Instagram Reels and TikTok with claims behind the “real” reason for the wildfire in Carolina Forest.
One video posted by @gubbahomestead, who has 1.7 million Instagram followers, got more than 60,000 likes within the first 48 hours.
“It’s almost as if these natural disasters seem to clear the way for major redevelopment projects,” she said in her video, alleging that Myrtle Beach’s plan to become a smart city was somehow connected to the fires. “But what do I know, I’m just a conspiracy theorist.”
In response to @gubbahomestead’s viral video, the City of Myrtle Beach’s spokesperson Meredith Denari fact checked the false claims.
“At this time, our priority remains supporting first responders and the residents impacted by the fire,” she wrote via email to The Sun News. “The Covington Drive fire is located approximately seven miles outside the City of Myrtle Beach and is well beyond city limits. There is no connection between Myrtle Beach’s Smart City initiatives and this wildfire.”
Denari explained that the term “Smart City” simply refers to the use of advanced technologies to improve city services, efficiency and public safety.
Examples she provided in her email include preemptive traffic signals to assist first responders, acoustic gunfire detection and digital service portals for residents and business owners. These technologies do not involve land clearing or any activities that would contribute to a wildfire, Denari wrote.
On Friday morning, local authorities announced that a Carolina Forest woman was arrested for burning debris in her backyard, which then allegedly caused the over 2,000-acre wildfire.
Alexandra Anna Bialousow, 40, was charged by the South Carolina Forestry Commission with two misdemeanors, according to Sun News reporting.
Another theory was discussed by @newsupdates4real and received 65,000 likes. The account is run by John Wiber and has 1.2 million Instagram followers.
In Wiber’s video, he claims that a company wanting lithium in South Carolina could be connected to the fires near the state’s central border.
“Wouldn’t it be crazy if the Carolinas are on fire again?” he asks in the opening moments of his video.
To date, the state has implemented a burn ban due to extremely dry weather and unusually low amount of rainfall this past month. There has been no mention of lithium by officials investigating the fire.
Lead meteorologist for the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Andrew Kingston, previously said that it’s not unusual for wildfires to happen this time of year.
A spokesperson for the agency said on Friday afternoon that the cause of the fire would be determined by the state Forestry Commission and local fire agencies. She added that these types of claims about lithium have also circulated after other disasters.
This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 12:48 PM with the headline "We fact-checked social media theories about Carolina Forest wildfire. Here’s what to know."
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