Woman Accused in SC Forest Fire Accepts Diversion Program
The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
(TNS)
The woman accused of starting the wildfire that scorched thousands of acres in Carolina Forest seven months ago will not plea in the case, her legal team announced in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday morning.
Alexandra Bialousow was scheduled to face a jury in Myrtle Beach after the South Carolina Forestry commission accused her of starting a backyard fire pit without proper precautions, which grew out of control during a burn ban in Horry County last march. The wildfire ultimately affected over 2,000 acres of land and caused evacuations in several neighborhoods.
Jonny McCoy, Bialousow’s attorney, said that his client was never officially charged with starting the fire, and that the only reason she was arrested and “falsely accused” of starting the fire was because “someone powerful” wanted the investigation into the fire to stop.
Rather than pleading guilty or not guilty, Bialousow accepted a diversion program, meaning she will complete a certain number of hours of community service and then have the charges expunged from her record, according to McCoy.
“Essentially, it’s what you offer people for jaywalking,” McCoy gave as an example.
Bialousow faced charges of regulating fires on certain lands and negligently allowing forest to spread to the lands of others. The 40-year-old allegedly burned debris near a treeline in her yard on Covington Drive during the burn ban and without taking the proper precautions, The Sun News previously reported. The Forestry Commission said that she did not have proper water or tools on hand to control the fire.
McCoy contends that video evidence shows that Bialousow did have a hose and shovel on hand, and that she and her boyfriend were carefully paying attention to controlling the fire. He claimed that dozens of permitted burns were happening in the area which could have caused the wildfire, and Bialousow’s arrest was a “distraction” from investigations.
She was arrested on March 6 for burning on March 1.
Hundreds of firefighters and personnel from more than 30 agencies were brought in to fight the fire, which burned for more than a week before being contained.
The wildfire came close to homes, but did not lead to the loss of any structures or any injuries being reported. However, the fire did lead to damage in the area
Bialousow said that the mental toll of the accusations was tough, and that she worried about the mental health of her kids. The Myrtle Beach native is a healthcare worker and substitute teacher.
“My chest is lighter now,” she said after her diversion program was announced.
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