Carolina Forest Wildfire Challenge Coin Fundraiser: How Captain Brad Kavetski Gave Back to His Community

May 22, 2025

On March 1, 2025, Horry County, South Carolina, was swept by devastating wildfires that spread over 2,000 acres, forcing residents to evacuate their homes. Often referred to as the Carolina Forest Wildfire, the blaze destroyed several trees and buildings throughout the county. As of May 21, 2025, the wildfire has been completely extinguished, thanks to the dedicated efforts of fire departments across South Carolina. 

Amid the crisis, Horry County Fire-Rescue Captain Brad Kavetski found a way to help. To honor the extraordinary firefighting efforts against the wildfire, he designed and sold a custom challenge coin– a token that quickly became a symbol of hope and support. The initiative raised $5,000, which was split evenly among the Carolina Forest Community Church and the South Carolina Firefighters Foundation, each receiving $2,500 in donation money. 

“I’ve always been a really big challenge coin guy. I collect and trade challenge coins from all over any chance I get,” Kavetski said. “So this isn’t the first challenge coin that I’ve designed.” 

Kavetski chose the Carolina Forest Community Church and the South Carolina Firefighters Foundation as the recipients of the fundraiser due to their support during the wildfire response. 

“I really got the idea to do this fundraiser for the challenge coin design for the church because they played a very important role in our rehab during the incident,” said Kavetski. “All hours of the night, they were feeding us, making sure that we had everything that we needed.”

“Beyond that, obviously, I am very familiar with everything that the foundation does. The incident brought departments from all across the state to Horry County to help us fight that fire,” He added. “I know the association and the foundation, specifically, they provide scholarships and financial assistance to any fire department in the state that’s a member. I felt that the foundation would be another good fit for a donation as well.” 

Though the Carolina Forest Wildfire has been extinguished, Kavetski encourages the community to remain cautious when engaging in open burning. He emphasizes the importance of following the rules and regulations set by the State Forestry Commission and local municipalities to help prevent further incidents.