April updates on the Table Rock fire
8:55 A.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 1 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
TABLE ROCK COMPLEX OPERATIONAL UPDATE – APRIL 1, 2025
Mike Brod, Operations Section Chief Trainee with the Southern Area Blue Team, reviews recent operations at Table Rock Complex and previews today’s priorities (in the video below).
12:44 P.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 1 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE – APRIL 1, 2025
SMOKE OUTLOOK (SC): https://www.scfc.gov/…/SmokeOutlook_BlackCoveComplex…
SMOKE OUTLOOK (NC): https://www.scfc.gov/…/SmokeOutlook_BlackCoveComplex…
TABLE ROCK FIRE
SIZE: 13,287 acres
12,652 acres (SC)
635 acres (NC)
CONTAINMENT: 30%
START DATE: March 21, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
The Table Rock Complex fire received around 1.5 inches of rain over the last two days, significantly reducing fire activity. The dry conditions today provide an opportunity for firefighters at the Table Rock Fire to make good progress on extinguishing hotspots and securing control lines. Firefighters will continue constructing control lines along the fire’s edge in North Carolina and the northeastern edge in South Carolina. Air operations will utilize unmanned aircraft to map hotspots near the fire’s edge so firefighters can strategically extinguish burning material. Firefighters will continue to build containment lines along the eastern edge of the fire near Raven Cliffs.
PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRE
SIZE: 2,078 acres
CONTAINMENT: 74%
START DATE: March 22, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
The Persimmon Ridge fire has ceased growth and will remain in its current footprint. Today’s drying weather will allow firefighters to utilize heavy equipment on the eastern edge of the fire, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Crews will break up large, downed trees to reduce the amount of fuel available to burn.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Today, sunny conditions will be observed across the fire area after two days and an inch and a half of rain. Temperatures will reach the low 70s with relative humidity near 30 percent. Winds will be light and out of the northwest, shifting to the southwest later this afternoon. These drying conditions will precipitate an increase in smoke from both fires as heavy debris within the fire perimeter continues to smolder.
CLOSURES/EVACUATIONS: All mandatory evacuations in Greenville County have been reduced to voluntary. All voluntary evacuations in Pickens County have been lifted. No evacuations are in place for Transylvania County, NC.
BURN BAN: A burning ban remains in effect for Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Horry counties in South Carolina – all outdoor burning prohibited – including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires, and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of South Carolina. The ban has been lifted for the rest of South Carolina. A statewide ban on open burning remains in place for all counties in North
Carolina.
SC Firefighter Mobilization (SC State Fire) Resources: All remaining SC Firefighter Mobilization resources are planned to demobilize today. SC State Fire will continue to have a SC-HART crew on standby as a means to provide rapid extraction of an injured wildland crew member, if needed. The Palmetto IST will remain at the incident for as long as SC-HART and our Mobile Command Center is needed.
Command: The Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) is managing the Table Rock Complex, in unified command with South Carolina Forestry Commission, North Carolina Forest Service, Greenville County Emergency Management and Pickens County Emergency Management. The incident is supported by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina State Fire, South Carolina Military Department, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, USDA Forest Service and multiple local fire departments.
Zoomable map: https://www.scfc.gov/…/04/Table-Rock-PIO-Map-250401.pdf
5:00 P.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 1 UPDATE: THREE TEENAGERS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH TABLE ROCK FIRE
At 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1, the South Carolina Forestry Commission announced that, on Tuesday morning, three Upstate teenagers had been arrested by law enforcement officials on charges related to the Table Rock fire. Two are age 18, and one is age 19. All three are from Greenville County. Each has been charged with one count each of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another.
“While involved in the search for a missing hiker in Table Rock State Park March 21, Pickens County sheriff’s deputies, state park personnel, and other first responders discovered a rapidly growing wildfire. As part of their response, the search group located and evacuated seven hikers, several of whom were questioned about the origins of the fire.
“During preliminary interviews, four subjects, three adults and one minor, were relocated to the C. David Stone Law Enforcement Center in Pickens for follow-up questioning. SCFC investigators along with Pickens County Sheriff’s Office detectives obtained evidence that they allege identified these subjects as suspects in the origin of the Table Rock State Park fire.
“According to the arrest warrant affadavits, the suspects took part in smoking activities on a hiking trail at the state park and did not extinguish their cigarettes in a proper and safe manner, which officials allege led to the ignition of the Table Rock Fire.
“The juvenile subject was charged with one count of the same offense; he was not booked, but was released into the custody of his parents. The three adult suspects were booked into the Pickens County Detention Center and released on personal recognizance bonds of $7,500 each.
“REFERENCES: SC CODE OF LAWS SECTION 16-11-180. Negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another.
Upon conviction of this offense, suspect must be imprisoned for not less than five days nor more than thirty days or be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars.”
8:17 A.M. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
TABLE ROCK COMPLEX OPERATIONAL UPDATE – APRIL 2, 2025
Mike Brod, Operations Section Chief Trainee with the Southern Area Blue Team, reviews recent operations at Table Rock Complex and previews today’s priorities.
10:32 A.M. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE – APRIL 2, 2025
TABLE ROCK FIRE
SIZE: 13,564 acres
12,929 acres (SC)
635 acres (NC)
CONTAINMENT: 68%
START DATE: March 21, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
Tuesday saw a significant jump in containment on the Table Rock Fire as it increased from 30 percent to 68 percent. Several unmanned aircraft flights identified a small number of hotspots near the fire’s edge that will be addressed today. In general, infrared mapping revealed that the fire perimeter is secure even though heat remains on the interior of the fire. Firefighters will continue to patrol the perimeter of the fire, drop any snags that could fall across containment lines and mop-up any hotspots near the line. Crews will begin backhauling equipment today. This involves removing hoses, pumps and other equipment so it can be refurbished and reused on future fires.
PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRE
SIZE: 2,078 acres
CONTAINMENT: 74%
START DATE: March 22, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
Firefighters on the Persimmon Ridge Fire will continue using heavy equipment to break up large, downed trees from Hurricane Helene to reduce the amount of fuel available to burn. Fire engines will patrol the containment lines and extinguish any remaining hotspots near the fire perimeter.
SAFETY MESSAGE: Slow down and move over when encountering firefighters on the road. On Tuesday, fire personnel experienced a near miss between firefighters and a private vehicle. Please be aware that firefighters, engines, and equipment may be moving slowly or stopped on local roads. Drivers are urged to slow down and give fire crews space to work.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: Rain is expected on the fire this morning, with cloudy conditions throughout the day. Temperatures will reach the low to mid-70s, with relative humidity remaining high at around 70%. Winds will be light and out of the southeast, shifting to the northeast later this afternoon.
CLOSURES/EVACUATIONS: All evacuation orders related to the Table Rock and Persimmon fires have been lifted.
BURN BAN: A burning ban remains in effect for Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg and Horry counties in South Carolina, with all outdoor burning prohibited. The ban has been lifted for the rest of South Carolina. A statewide ban on open burning in North Carolina was lifted this morning.
SC Firefighter Mobilization (SC State Fire) Resources: All SC Firefighter Mobilization resources have demobilized. SC State Fire will continue to have a SC-HART crew on standby as a means to provide rapid extraction of an injured wildland crew member, if needed. The Palmetto IST will remain at the incident for as long as SC-HART and the Mobile Command Center is needed.
Command: The Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) is managing the Table Rock Complex, in unified command with South Carolina Forestry Commission, North Carolina Forest Service, Greenville County Emergency Management and Pickens County Emergency Management. The incident is supported by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina State Fire, South Carolina
Military Department, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, USDA Forest Service and multiple local fire departments.
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12:38 P.M. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – STATE FORESTER’S BURNING BAN TO BE LIFTED FOR REMAINING FIVE COUNTIES
*SCFC urges vigilance when burning, making notification, taking proper precautions
COLUMBIA—The State Forester’s Burning Ban will be lifted for Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties, effective at noon today.
The previously statewide burning ban was lifted for the 41 other S.C. counties Monday, March 31.
The ban is being lifted for two reasons. Weather conditions that prompted the March 21 ban, including dangerously low relative humidities and gusty winds have subsided. Additionally, tremendous progress has been made on containing the two wildfires making up the Table Rock Complex in Greenville and Pickens counties which will allow the release of resources to return to their home units for response to new wildfire ignitions. The Table Rock Complex and the Covington Drive Fire continue to be monitored using local resources.
Underlying conditions still warrant the need to be extremely vigilant when burning outdoors, as above-average fire danger and activity is expected through April, which has historically seen the worst, most damaging and costly wildfires in South Carolina. Anyone who burns outdoors and allows their fire to escape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
The lifting of the burning ban in all S.C. counties allows citizens to once again conduct safe, responsible outdoor burning, provided that all notification procedures are followed and proper precautions taken. This time of year affords a limited window for forest landowners and farmers to conduct prescribed burns, which are necessary tools for forestry and agriculture purposes.
Citizens who may plan to conduct outdoor burning of residential yard debris or prescribed burns must still notify the Forestry Commission before doing so.
Notification procedures as well as mandatory precautions for conducting burns may be found on the SCFC website: scfc.gov/protection/fire-burning/
8:42 A.M. THURSDAY, APRIL 3 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
TABLE ROCK COMPLEX OPERATIONAL UPDATE – APRIL 3, 2025
***FINAL OPERATIONAL UPDATE***
Mike Brod, Operations Section Chief Trainee with the Southern Area Blue Team, reviews mop up operations at Table Rock Complex and previews priorities moving forward.
We want to extend a huge THANK YOU to the community and everyone who has volunteered, donated and otherwise supported us and our cooperators during this incident. We appreciate you!
9:54 A.M. THURSDAY, APRIL 3 UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION:
TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE – APRIL 3, 2025
*This will be the final update for the Table Rock Complex
TABLE ROCK FIRE
SIZE: 13,845 acres
-13,210 acres (SC)
-635 acres (NC)
CONTAINMENT: 91%
START DATE: March 21, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
On Wednesday, firefighters secured the perimeter of the Table Rock Fire. Fire resources will continue to patrol and mop-up any remaining hotspots as containment nears 100%. Today’s focus will shift to suppression repair, which involves stabilizing exposed soil with seed and straw to prevent erosion and remove dirt and debris from stream crossings. Firefighters will install water bars on containment lines, which are small diagonal ridges built across the fireline to divert surface water runoff back into the woods. Crews will complete backhauling equipment today.
PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRE
SIZE: 2,078 acres
CONTAINMENT: 99%
START DATE: March 22, 2025
CAUSE: Human-caused
Firefighters on the Persimmon Ridge Fire will focus on suppression repair and backhauling of equipment today. Fire engines will continue to patrol the containment lines and extinguish any remaining hotspots near the fire perimeter.
SAFETY MESSAGE: Slow down and move over when encountering firefighters on the road. Firefighters, engines, and equipment may move slowly or stop on local roads. Drivers are urged to slow down and give fire crews space to work.
WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR: The moist weather pattern moving through the area has deposited between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain on the fires over the last twenty-four hours. Today, high temperatures should reach 80 degrees, with relative humidity not dropping below 60%. Winds will be between 5 and 10 mph, with gusts up to 20 mph in the afternoon.
CLOSURES/EVACUATIONS: All evacuation orders related to the Table Rock and Persimmon fires have been lifted.
BURN BAN: There are no burn bans in place for the states of South Carolina and North Carolina.
SC Firefighter Mobilization (SC State Fire) Resources: All SC Firefighter Mobilization resources have demobilized. SC State Fire will have a SC-HART crew on standby through xFriday at Noon, as a means to provide rapid extraction of an injured wildland crew member, if needed. The Palmetto IST will remain at the incident through Friday at Noon in support of SC-HART.
Command: The Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) is managing the Table Rock Complex, in unified command with South Carolina Forestry Commission, North Carolina Forest Service, Greenville County Emergency Management and Pickens County Emergency Management. The incident is supported by the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina State Fire, South Carolina Military Department, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, USDA Forest Service and multiple local fire departments.
