South Carolina Coastal Firefighters Get Wildfire Training

Thirteen firefighters in the South Carolina city that battled the worst wildfire in state history have now been certified in fighting woodland blazes.

The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reports the North Myrtle Beach firefighters were certified Wednesday.

The training was suggested in a report after an April, 2009, wildfire that burned more than 19,000 acres, destroyed 76 houses and caused more than $25 million in damage.

Darryl Jones with the state Forestry Commission says the firefighters took the classroom part of the course online and then spent time in the field.

Fifty more city firefighters have already completed the online portion of the training.