Another day of extreme fire behavior on both incidents today prompted a new round of evacuations and led to a second straight day of rapid expansion of both wildfires.

Both Greenville and Pickens County Emergency Management services, in collaboration with the SC Emergency Management Division, rapidly coordinated an updated evacuation alert via social media and wireless emergency alert (WEA) for residents amid escalating concern for rapid wildfire spread into expanded areas.

The evacuation shelter for all affected residents is Marietta First Baptist Church at 2936 Geer Hwy, Marietta SC 29661. A Table Rock Public Information Line – (864) 467-3428 – has been set up for evacuation information. The service is open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.

The weather conditions today – relative humidity dropping to an extreme low of 14% and continued gusty winds – contributed greatly to the fires’ growth. Winds diminish overnight and are expected to be lighter Thursday, but relative humidity is expected to drop to 22% in the afternoon. Dry conditions overall are expected to continue through Saturday, with rain chances increasing late this weekend into early next week.

The abundance of downed timber from Hurricane Helene remains dry from the lack of significant rain, contributing greatly to the extreme fire behavior today as well.

The arrival of a complex incident management team (CIMT) that will shadow existing incident command staff tomorrow sets the stage for a transition to a much larger response effort by firefighters and planners over the next few weeks.

Aviation support in the form of water drops was provided by a SLED helicopter (Bell 412), two SCFC single-engine air tankers, two SCNG Black Hawks and two SCNG Chinooks. Incident command staff ordered a “Super Scooper” aircraft, but the order was not filled; the request for a large air tanker (LAT) was not fulfilled because of poor visibility.

TABLE ROCK FIRE:

The Table Rock Fire nearly doubled in size today, measuring 4,556 acres, according to infrared data obtained from a surveillance flight today at 2 p.m. Late-afternoon reports from fireline personnel indicate that the wildfire has grown since then.

The southern front of the fire breached containment lines today, owing to strong wind gusts, and wildland firefighters on the northeast side of the fire worked diligently to establish firebreaks to halt its continued progress. Incident command staff hope to get air support tomorrow to “paint” the lines (with retardant) near threatened communities in the area.

Local fire departments were mobilized en masse to perform structural protection in the communities threatened to the east and south of the fire.

A new division, which follows the NC-SC state line west of the fire, was added to the operations map today.

Incident command staff continues to request more 20-person hand crews to assist with constructing firebreaks where terrain and/or downed timber prevents heavy equipment from being used.

PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRE:

The Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,553 acres today, according to infrared data obtained from a surveillance flight today at 2 p.m. Late-afternoon reports from fireline personnel indicate that the wildfire has certainly grown since then.

The fire continued to expand its eastern, western and southern perimeters, jumping US Hwy 276 to the west and Persimmon Ridge Road to the south.

Incident command staff is establishing a night shift on the northeast side of the fire; the 20-person hand crew is doing incredible work holding containment line in that area. They are being assisted by eight smokejumpers, three UTVs with slip-on units and one dozer.

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PARTNER UPDATES:

Greenville and Pickens County Emergency Management services

The Table Rock Public Information Line – (864) 467-3428 – has been opened for wildfire evacuees, if needed. 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

SC State Fire now has 148 firefighters on scene through Firefighter Mobilization. The agency’s contingent also includes five special-purpose vehicles (UTVs and others), 20 engine companies, nine tankers, 19 brush trucks and three battalion vehicles.

Five State Fire staff are on scene as well as two communication technicians from SC-TF1. Given the structure protection undertaking underway east of the Table Rock Fire, another large response from State Fire is planned for tomorrow.

South Carolina Forestry Commission

REMINDER ABOUT STATEWIDE BURNING BAN: A statewide burning ban issued Friday, March 21 remains in effect. 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 is remaining 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. It 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. Officials will reevaluate conditions Thursday.

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INCIDENT INFORMATION

FIRE BACKGROUND: 

Table Rock Fire: Human-caused / March 21, 2025 / Table Rock State Park

Persimmon Ridge Fire: Human-caused / March 22, 2025 / Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area southeast of Caesars Head State Park

FIRE SIZE:

Table Rock Fire: 4,556 acres and growing

Persimmon Ridge Fire: 1,553 acres and growing

CONTAINMENT:

Table Rock Fire: 0% containment

Persimmon Ridge Fire: 0% containment

ESTIMATED COSTS TO DATE: N/A

FIRE CREWS/RESOURCES:  170 personnel from SCFC, SC State Fire, Greenville Emergency Management, Pickens County Emergency Management, SCDNR, SLED, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water and dozens of local FDs

INJURIES: No injuries have been reported.

UPDATES: Updates will be provided only as new information becomes available.