Over the March 22 to 24 weekend, Burton Fire Department, with assistance from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort, extinguished five brush fires that were threatening residential homes. All fires were believed to be caused by unattended yard debris fires or illegal trash fires.
More than 8,000 firefighters statewide were battling wildfires that destroyed more than 7,000 structures and killed more than 40 people, with the flames feeding on dry brush and driven by strong winds.