South Carolina Coast Wildfires Contained

Fire crews have contained wind-driven fires that scorched hundreds of acres along the South Carolina coast.

Awendaw Fire Department Battalion Chief Bo Bowers said a fire that burned 1,110 acres near the Santee River in Charleston County is 98 percent contained and crews are out mopping up hot spots. The fire that started Wednesday afternoon in the rural area destroyed two homes and closed U.S. 17 because of smoke.

The highway reopened Thursday morning and an evacuation center was closed and people were allowed to return to their homes.

On the state’s north coast, a fire Wednesday threatened 30 homes near Little River but was contained without damaging any buildings.