Alexandra Bialousow, 40, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested Thursday on charges of negligently allowing fire to spread beyond her land or property and starting a fire in woodlands, grasslands or other areas without taking necessary precautions, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said in a statement Friday.
“According to the arrest warrant, the suspect ‘did not have an appropriate water source readily available,’ nor did she ‘have any garden tools on hand to control the fire’” and prevent it from escaping her yard, thus contributing to its spread to land owned by a homeowners association, the commission said.
Bialousow was released from jail on Friday, according to Horry County booking records. If convicted, she could face up to 30 days in jail or be fined up to $200 on each offense, according to state law. Bialousow did not immediately reply to CNN’s attempt to reach her.
Several witnesses reported seeing Bialousow intentionally start a fire on March 1 in a backyard fire pit near a tree line in the Covington Lakes subdivision, the commission said.