A wildfire along the coast of South Carolina ripped through Myrtle Beach early Thursday, forcing 2,500 residents to evacuate their homes.

At least 40 homes have been destroyed and 100 damaged by fire that has consumed 15,000 acres, according to local paper, The Sun Times. No injuries have been reported.

Meanwhile, Gov. Mark Sanford issued a state of emergency for Horry County.

About 2,500 people have been evacuated in the North Myrtle Beach area, west of the Intracoastal Waterway, according to Nicole Aiello, a city spokeswoman.

It was like something out of a movie, Danielle Prater, 25, who woke her aunt and uncle at 1:30 a.m. after seeing flames several feet high racing through a neighbor's back yard.

I ran and got them and we got out of there as fast as we could.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Gov. Sanford said the fire is continuing to spread and more people may be affected.

Click here for a photo gallery of the Myrtle Beach Fires.