CONWAY, Horry County, S.C., Sept. 23, 2026 — One person suffered minor injuries on Monday afternoon, September 21, after a house fire damaged four homes in the Conway area, Horry County Fire Rescue said.
The fire broke out on Todd Boulevard, according to the fire department. Two homes were heavily damaged in the blaze, and two others nearby sustained exterior heat damage.
Crews responded at 3:22 p.m. and treated one person for minor injuries before that person was taken to a hospital, Horry County Fire Rescue reported. The Conway Fire Department assisted at the scene.
The American Red Cross of South Carolina is expected to help residents who were displaced by the fire. The cause remains under investigation, fire officials said.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
When House Fires Are Most Likely to Turn Deadly or Destructive
House fires do not distribute evenly across the calendar. Cold-weather months bring more of them, driven by space heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces running for the first time in months. Cooking fires spike around holidays and in the evening hours when more households are preparing dinner at once.
Time of day matters too. Fires that start overnight, while residents are asleep, tend to cause more injuries and deaths because smoke detectors may go unheard or occupants have less time to react before smoke fills hallways and bedrooms. Afternoon and early evening fires, like many house fires reported to local departments, are usually caught early because someone is awake and home.
Older electrical systems and older heating equipment raise risk in any season. Multi-unit or closely spaced housing can also let a fire jump from one structure to a neighboring one before crews arrive, which is part of why fire departments frequently report damage to more than one home from a single fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most house fires start?
Kitchens are the leading location for house fires, largely due to unattended cooking. Bedrooms and living rooms follow, usually tied to heating equipment or electrical issues.
What injuries are common in house fires?
Smoke inhalation is the most frequent injury, followed by burns. Some residents are also hurt while trying to escape or re-enter a burning structure to help others.
What causes most residential fires?
Cooking equipment, heating devices, and electrical malfunctions account for most house fires nationally, according to fire safety data compiled by agencies such as the U.S. Fire Administration.
What to Do After a House Fire in Conway, SC
If you are displaced by a house fire, contact your local Red Cross chapter or emergency management office right away for temporary shelter, food, and clothing assistance. Do not re-enter a damaged home until fire officials or a building inspector confirms it is safe.
Get checked by a doctor even if injuries seem minor. Smoke inhalation symptoms can appear hours after exposure, and burns that look mild at first can worsen without care.
Keep records of the damage, including photos, and contact your homeowner's or renter's insurance company as soon as possible to begin a claim. If the cause of the fire is still under investigation, ask the fire department how to request updates once their report is complete.
