While the Table Rock Fire grew significantly Thursday, 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 Wednesday.
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.
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COOPERATOR UPDATES:
Greenville and Pickens County Emergency Management services
Greenville County and Pickens County Emergency Management want to remind residents that just because the conditions look better today, we still want to encourage evacuations in the designated zones until officials deem the area safe for re-entry.
In Pickens County, Sassafras Mountain Overlook has been closed and the road leading up to it, F Van Clayton Memorial Highway, is also closed.
The Table Rock Public Information Line – (864) 467-3428 – remains 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.
State Fire had 31 brush trucks, 39 engines, 10 UTVs, 11 tankers and 236 firefighters on the incident today. 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
- Total of 255 apparatus
- 1 HART Mission (COMMS)
- 2 SC-TF1 Comms Techs
- 2 SC-TF1 Plans Team Managers
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: 8,679 acres, with perimeter of 34.8 miles
Persimmon Ridge Fire: 1,553 acres, with a perimeter of 12.3 miles
CONTAINMENT:
Table Rock Fire: 0% containment
Persimmon Ridge Fire: 0% containment
FIRE CREWS/RESOURCES: 312 personnel from SCFC, SC State Fire, Greenville Emergency Management, Pickens County Emergency Management, SCDNR, SLED, USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water, out-of-state hand crews and dozens of local FDs
INJURIES: No injuries have been reported.
UPDATES: Updates on the SC Forestry Commission website
scfc.goc
Photo – SC Forestry Commission Photo
