The Beard Is Mightier

TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE – PICKENS COUNTY SC – 20:00:00 –MARCH 27, 2025 While the Table Rock Fire grew significantly today, the Persimmon Ridge Fire saw only modest expansion. The weather conditions that created such dramatic fire activity yesterday were much milder today, allowing crews to strengthen firebreaks along key expanses of both fires. No new calls for evacuations were necessary, although existing evacuations remain in place for the same areas east of the Table Rock Fire that were announced yesterday. Weather conditions tomorrow are a concern for increased fire activity, as relative humidity is expected to fall to 23%, and wind gusts could reach nearly 30 mph. A complex incident management team (CIMT) has been shadowing with existing incident command staff all day to ensure a smooth transition tomorrow and throughout the next few weeks as the overall response effort grows. Aviation support was particularly strong today, as one very large air tanker (VLAT) and four LATs dropped retardant on the northern edge of the fire. SLED and SCNG helicopters also dropped water on both fires today, as did the Forestry Commission’s contracted single-engine air tankers (SEATs). It is interesting to note that today was the first drop by a VLAT in South Carolina history. TABLE ROCK FIRE: According to infrared data obtained from a surveillance flight at 4:30 p.m., the Table Rock Fire is now estimated to be 8,679 acres, growing almost exclusively on the northern and western sides of the fire. The fire burned up to the North Carolina state line in several different places. The containment lines on the eastern side of the fire are holding very well so far, as are those on the south, which were fortified by burnouts in and around Table Rock State Park. The eastern containment is particularly good news because so many homes lie beyond the existing firebreaks. Crews will continue strengthening these lines in the coming days. PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRE: The Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,992 acres today, but with most of the additional acreage the result of burnouts that crews were able to conduct between existing firebreaks and the active fire. Tomorrow firefighters hope to complete burnouts of existing unburned areas and focus on improving and holding existing firebreaks. Photos by Mac Stone.

TABLE ROCK COMPLEX UPDATE – PICKENS COUNTY SC – 21:00:00 –MARCH 23, 2025 The South Carolina Forestry Commission, along with multiple cooperators (see below), is now managing what is called the Table Rock Complex. A complex is any large incident, in this case wildfires, involving two or more emergency response situations in the same vicinity. The Table Rock complex now consists of the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County. Both fires saw significant growth today, owing to winds and the inaccessibility of the steep, mountainous areas to which firefighters can gain closer access. The Table Rock Fire, which ignited Friday, has grown to more than 1,300 acres, although that estimate includes several hundred acres that were part of a burnout conducted by wildland firefighters to eliminate the fuels between evacuated residential areas and the many active wildfire fronts. The burnout, which remains in progress, is being deemed successful in removing said fuels. The Persimmon Ridge Fire, which started in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area between Caesars Head State Park and Jones Gap State Park Saturday, has grown to more than 800 acres despite many dozens of water drops by SCFC and SLED aircraft. Tomorrow at least six aircraft will be deployed for water-dropping missions to both fires, including one SCNG Chinook, two SCNG Black Hawks, one SLED helicopter and two SCFC single-engine air tanker Fire Bosses. Additional SCFC aircraft will be in service to provide surveillance and coordination between dispatch, ground personnel and command staff. Voluntary evacuations of approximately 100 residences remain in effect just east of Table Rock State Park; no further evacuations are necessary at this time, although residents in the surrounding areas are advised to monitor local news and social media if conditions warrant. More than 100 personnel from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, SC State Fire, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Greenville Water, the USDA Forest Service, SC Department of Natural Resources (DNR), SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Pickens County EMD and local fire departments continue working to contain the fire. REMINDER: A statewide burning ban issued Friday at 6 p.m. remains in effect until further notice. 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. FIRE BACKGROUND: Table Rock Fire: Human-caused / March 21, 2025 / Table Rock State Park, 13 miles north of Pickens, S.C. Persimmon Ridge Fire: Human-caused / March 22, 2025 / Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area CONTAINMENT: 0% on Table Rock Fire 0% on Persimmon Ridge FIre EVACUATIONS: Voluntary evacuations of approximately 100 residences remain in effect just east of Table Rock State Park; no further evacuations are necessary at this time, although residents in the surrounding areas are advised to monitor local news and social media if conditions warrant. ESTIMATED COSTS TO DATE: N/A FIRE CREWS/RESOURCES: More than 100 personnel from SCFC, SC State Fire, TNC, Greenville Water, the USDA Forest Service, DNR, SLED, Pickens County EMD and local FDs INJURIES: No injuries have been reported. STRUCTURES: No structures are imminently threatened at this time. CLOSURES: Table Rock State Park and all trails are closed until further notice, as are all trails at Caesars Head and Jones Gap State Parks. UPDATES: Updates will be provided only as new information becomes available.