SC Gov. Henry McMaster secures FEMA fire assistance grant, 'people need to be careful'

The Table Rock wildfires grew significantly Thursday, while the Persimmon Ridge Fire saw only modest expansion.

The Table Rock Fire is now estimated to be 8,679 acres, growing almost exclusively on the northern and western sides of the fire, according to infrared data obtained from a surveillance flight at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The fire burned up the North Carolina state line in several places.

The Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,992 acres on Thursday. Still, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, most of the additional acreage resulted from burnouts that crews could conduct between existing firebreaks and the active fire.

The weather conditions that created dramatic fire activity Wednesday were much milder Thursday, allowing crews to strengthen firebreaks along key expanses of both fires, according to the SCFC.

4:09 p.m. Dog and horse rescued by firefighters in Upstate wildfires. Where to bring displaced pets

A dog is waiting for its owner to claim it after firefighters rescued it from a mountain in the Table Rock Fire. 

A horse named Duke was also rescued in the Persimmon Ridge Fire, who escaped while his owner was evacuating. 

Click here to read the story.

Nina Tran

4:07 p.m. How many wildfires are currently active across SC, NC? Here's what wildfire maps show

In S.C., there have been 27 wildfire incidents over the last 30 days. As of March 23, 78 wildfires have burned 2,424.8 acres in North Carolina.

Click here to see how many fires remain active in both states and where they are located.

Nina Tran

3:15: 'This might be the perfect fire'

"You've seen the movie 'The Perfect Storm. ' Well, this might be the perfect fire," said Gov. Henry McMaster at the Gaines Lodge located on Table Rock State Park Road in Pickens.

McMaster joined more than a dozen state and local officials in addressing the current state of the Table Rock Complex Fires. 

Here's what we learned from his press conference:

Crews are concerned about Saturday's weather conditions, as increased fire activity is expected. Humidity is expected to fall to 23%, and wind gusts could reach nearly 30 mph.

“People need to be careful and don't do these things," McMaster said, addressing the SC Burn Ban.

Gov. McMaster secured a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Management Assistance Grant.

On Saturday, March 22, Gov. McMaster declared a State of Emergency for the Table Rock Complex Fire.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved South Carolina’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support efforts to contain the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County.  

The grant approval makes South Carolina eligible for 75% reimbursement from the federal government for the costs of battling fires. These funds will help cover personnel, equipment, and firefighting operations expenses, including air tankers, bulldozers, and additional fire crews. 

S.C. Forestry Commission Director Scott Phillips said this is the beginning of wildfire season. Phillip said April is normally the month when you'll see weather associated with fires.

“This is going to be a long season for us as we move forward," Phillips said.

The Commission also said crews will focus on the northern and eastern portions of the Table Rock Fire. Homes are to the east, and the North Carolina state border is to the north.

"The Forest Commission's top priorities are our number one, always to protect the lives of our citizens and our first responders. Number two is to protect the homes of our citizens. Number three, to suppress the wildfires," Phillips said.

According to the S.C. Forestry Commission, the U.S. Forest Service listed the Table Rock Complex Fires as the top resource priority in the southeast. This will allow S.C. crews to have any extra utilities available.

According to Greenville County Emergency Management, evacuations continue for parts of Greenville and Pickens Counties, specifically for Oil Camp Creek Road residents east to River Falls Road, south to Highway 11, and west to West Gate Road. 

More than 1,400 structures have been evacuated so far. No homes have been damaged, and no people have died. Marrietta First Baptist Church is the designated shelter for the fires. At this time, only 22 people are occupying it. 

"If you have not evacuated, it's very important that you do not return home into local authorities let you know that it's safe to do so," S.C. Emergency Management Services Director Kim Stenson said.

Terry Benjamin

Noon update: More than 10,000 acres and growing

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is visiting the Table Rock Complex Fire, holding a news conference with South Carolina State Fire and the State Forestry Commission.

Key takeaways so far, according to the City of Greenville's Facebook post:

• This is just the beginning of the wildfire season in South Carolina. So far in March, the SC Forestry Commission has responded to 373 fires burning over 18,100 acres. April and May are peak fire season.
• There are currently three active wildfires in South Carolina.
• The SC National Guard has been deployed and is "in the fight."
• Forestry has dropped about 612,000 gallons of water, which does not include water drops from other agencies.
• A firefighter mobilization effort has deployed 550 firefighters and 96 apparatus from local agencies.
• SLED is there to patrol evacuated areas to prevent looting and keep spectators away.
• Trees from Hurricane Helene are blocking access to some areas that are burning.
• A burn ban is in effect statewide. People who violate the ban could face criminal charges.

10:43 a.m.: Table Rock Tea Company is open for tours

In a social media post, the Table Rock Tea Company is back open. They say it is smoky but not too bad.

"We are OPEN TODAY! 9-5 with tours at 10 & 2. Come on out, buy tea, buy tea plants, support local. Please do avoid Highway 11."

10:34 a.m.: Want to send monetary donations for fire relief?

The Pickens County Sheriff's Office has released a QR code by Table Rock Camp and Retreat Center (a/k/a The Wesleyan Camp) for people who want to donate money.

In a social media post, they wrote:

"Several citizens have reached out to us regarding making monetary donations to assist with fire relief.

"The Table Rock Camp and Retreat Center (a/k/a The Wesleyan Camp) has set up a QR code so that donations can be sent directly to us for use on food, etc."

Go to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page for more information.

10:26 a.m.: Pickens County update on fire

The Pickens County Sheriff's Office released this video update on the wildfires at Table Rock.

10:25 a.m.: North Carolina fires update

Multiple wildfires continue to burn in Western North Carolina and the South Carolina Upstate Friday, March 28, some entering their second week of burning.

Thousands of acres have burned, and hundreds of firefighters from across the country are battling the wildfires around the clock. Evacuations have been ordered. Some homes have been destroyed. Only one injury has been reported.

The largest fire in the region is the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County, South Carolina, which crossed the state line into Transylvania County in North Carolina on Thursday, March 27. In North Carolina, large wildfires are burning in Polk County, the Deep Woods and Black Cove fires; Swain County, the Alarka Fire; and Haywood County, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire.

Wildfire update from the City of Greenville

The City of Greenville updated its followers on social media with new information Friday morning:

• Emergency Operations moved to OPCON 1 (full alert, disaster occurring) on Thursday, activating all agency personnel.
• Fire apparatuses and manpower deployed from across the state
• Aerial operations resumed after a halt due to low visibility
• 1,386 structures are within the evacuation area
• 150 people are sheltering in place
• 129 people are evacuated
• 3 people were rescued
• No homes are damaged
• No injuries are reported

The primary shelter at First Baptist Church in Marietta is serving 22 evacuees. Further evacuations are possible. A second shelter is on standby.

Donations to help first responders are being accepted at Trailside Church, 6711 State Park Road in Travelers Rest, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Requests include first aid and hygiene items (eye drops, nasal spray, wipes, lozenges, superglue, Gold Bond, safety goggles/glasses), packaged snacks, and electrolyte packets.

SC Gov. McMaster to hold media briefing

Gov. Henry McMaster will hold a media briefing with state emergency management officials on Friday, March 28, at 11:15 a.m., to update the public on the state's response to the Table Rock Complex Fire.

SCETV will provide live stream coverage on their website.

Terry Benjamin

No new calls for evacuations

According to SCFC, no new evacuation calls were necessary. Existing evacuations remain in place for the same areas east of the Table Rock Fire announced on Wednesday.

Friday forecast for Table Rock

According to the SCFC, Friday's weather conditions are a concern for increased fire activity. Relative humidity is expected to fall to 23%, and wind gusts could reach nearly 30 mph.

Wildfire management, air support

A complex incident management team (CIMT) has been shadowing with existing incident command staff all day Thursday to ensure a smooth transition Friday and throughout the next few weeks as the overall response effort grows, according to SCFC.

Aviation support was strong on Thursday, as one air tanker (VLAT) and four LATs dropped retardant on the fire's northern edge, according to SCFC.

SLED and SCNG helicopters also dropped water on both fires Thursday, as did the Forestry Commission’s contracted single-engine air tankers (SEATs), according to SCFC. Thursday was the first drop by a VLAT in South Carolina history.

Table Rock fire

The containment lines on the fire's eastern side are holding very well, as are those on the south, which were fortified by burnouts in and around Table Rock State Park, according to the SCFC.

The eastern containment is good news because many homes lie beyond the existing firebreaks.

Crews will continue strengthening these lines in the coming days.

Persimmon Ridge Fire updates

On Friday, firefighters hope to complete burnouts of unburned areas and focus on improving and holding existing firebreaks.

Sassafras Mountain Overlook closed

According to the SCFC, Sassafras Mountain Overlook in Pickens County and the road leading up to it, F Van Clayton Memorial Highway, are closed.

Table Rock: Who to call for help

The Table Rock Public Information Line, 864-467-3428, remains open for wildfire evacuees.

The line will be monitored from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

If you have an emergency, call 911.

Greenville County Emergency Management and Pickens County, SC are providing more information on Facebook and Instagram.

SC State Fire by the numbers

State Fire had 31 brush trucks, 39 engines, 10 UTVs, 11 tankers and 236 firefighters on the incident Thursday.

This brings State Fire’s overall contributions to the Table Rock Complex to:

• 546 firefighters
• 30 support staff
• 87 engines
• 99 brush trucks
• 18 battalion chiefs
• 12 tankers
• 15 UTVs
• A total of 255 apparatus
• 1 HART Mission (COMMS)
• 2 SC-TF1 Comms Techs
• 2 SC-TF1 plans team managers

Burning ban remains in place

A statewide burning ban issued Friday, March 21, remains in effect, according to SCFC.

A State Forester’s Burning Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires, and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.

The ban remains in place for several reasons: Fire danger will be elevated over the next several days as most of the state is forecast to have low relative humidities and higher-than-normal winds, coupled with drying fuels from a lack of significant rain.

The ban also helps ease the strain on statewide firefighting resources with so many personnel from the Forestry Commission and local fire departments committed to the Table Rock Complex.

How big are the Table Rock, Persimmon fires

Table Rock Fire: 8,679 acres, with a perimeter of 34.8 miles

Persimmon Ridge Fire: 1,553 acres, with a perimeter of 12.3 miles

Table Rock Fire: 0% containment

Persimmon Ridge Fire: 0% containment

What to know about Table Rock, Persimmon Ridge fires

This is what we know so far about the Table Rock Complex and Persimmon Ridge wildfires, according to the City of Greenville.

• A single command center manages the Table Rock Complex Fire and Persimmon Ridge fires.
• The wildfires are growing from every angle, according to Emergency Management.
• Between Table Rock and Permission Ridge, near Caesar’s Head, more than 6,000 acres have burned.
• The fire is zero percent contained.

Weekend weather forecast

• The combination of low relative humidity, gusty winds, and dry fuels will keep the potential for increased fire danger in place on Friday and possibly Saturday.
• On Saturday, wind gusts, ranging from 20 to 25 mph, will pick up again.

Read the complete forecast here.

Nina Tran

What roads are closed?

Table Rock State Park is closed, and some roadways are closed in Greenville and Pickens counties.

The Pickens County Sheriff's Office has issued a closure on Highway 11 between West Gate and Pumpkintown. 

Traffic will be routed from West Gate to Hickory Hollow Road. This will provide a detour that ensures emergency vehicles have clear access to the wildfire area. 

From the north, drivers will be redirected to the intersection of Highway 11 and Highway 8, connecting to Highway 288. 

This route will eventually bring travelers back to Highway 11.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) has closed Geer Highway (US 276) in both directions from Echo Drive Extension to SC Highway 8. 

Click here to read the story.

Travis Rose

How does a burnout operation work?

The South Carolina Forestry Commission explained how a burnout operation works.

According to their post, burnout operations have been used at the Table Rock Complex. In this video, Russell Hubright explains how they work as crews initiated more burnout operations this morning.

What to bring when leaving your home in a natural disaster?

Read the article here.

• Wildfires in Western North Carolina and South Carolina are prompting evacuations and emergency declarations.
• Residents are advised to prepare for evacuation by gathering essential items like prescriptions, important documents, and personal needs.
• During a wildfire, it's crucial to follow instructions from authorities and evacuate immediately if ordered.

Fighting fires at night

Did you know that the firefighters fighting the Table Rock and Persimmons Road fires continue fighting the wildfires at night?

They do, according to the City of Greenville's social media pages.

"The job of fighting wildfires doesn’t stop when the sun sets," they wrote.

"While we sleep, crews are protecting homes and working against the elements to contain two mountainous fires that continue to grow. Winds are blowing the fire north expanding evacuation zones."

See the video below:

Greenville firefighters rescue horse

Although there have been many moments of devastation, there have also been moments of hope mixed in.

The City of Greenville shared a story on social media of Greenville City firefighters rescuing a horse.  "During his owner’s emergency evacuation, Duke ran free," according to the post. "He stayed close to home and returned when the fire was defeated. Firefighters, including Ian Anderson, treated him to apples and head rubs. Crews informed the family that Duke and their home were safe."