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Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Search For Missing Hiker Called Off After Teens Allegedly Caused Huge Wildfire With Cigarettes
Three adults and a minor are accused of starting a 13,000-acre wildfire that forced rescuers to abandon their search for a missing hiker, the South Carolina Forestry Commission announced Tuesday. Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, Tristan Tyler, 18, and Isaac Wilson, 18, were charged with one misdemeanor count each of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another, according to the forestry commission. They were charged alongside a juvenile, but he was released to his parents' custody and not booked in jail. Officials say the suspects were hiking in Table Rock State Park on March 21 and smoking cigarettes. The young men, however, did not properly extinguish one of the cigarettes, igniting the wildfire, the announcement said. Pickens County sheriff's deputies and first responders were already in the area with a search party looking for Stephanie Womacks, 52, who disappeared March 3 while visiting the park, Sheriff Fred Blankenship said. Womacks' search was called off after first responders noticed the rapidly growing fires, and seven hikers were evacuated from the park, according to Blankenship and the forestry commission. A spokesperson for the Pickens County Sheriff's Office confirmed with HuffPost that Womacks is still considered a missing person. Days before the fire broke out, Womacks' son asked for help in finding his mother. 'I just think she's someone that deserves to have every opportunity to be found, to be brought home,' Isaiah Wilkins told Fox affiliate WHNS. 'I think anyone deserves that, but especially it being my mom, obviously I want that to be done.' As of Tuesday, the fire had spread to 13,564 acres and was 68% contained, according to the forestry commission. The agency notes forest fire danger is usually highest from January to April due to dead vegetation. 'Fires do not start or spread as quickly when vegetation is green,' the commission's website read. North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Bo Dossett also notes that dry conditions, wind and trees downed by Hurricane Helene fueled the recent wildfires. The suspects were all released on personal recognizance bonds of $7,500, according to the forestry commission. They are now facing a minimum of five days in jail and a maximum of 30 days in jail if convicted or a fine of $25 to $200. An attorney was not listed in the suspects' court records reviewed by HuffPost. Wildfires In The Carolinas Fueled By Drought, Wind And Fallen Trees From Hurricane Helene Wildfires Ravage South Korea, Killing 24 People And Destroying 1,300-Year-Old Temple Wildfires Prompt Evacuations In Carolinas, As New Jersey Crews Battle Blaze
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
3 charged in connection to 13,000-acre wildfire at state park
Officials in South Carolina have arrested and charged three men concerning a 13,000-plus-acre wildfire that happened last month. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Tuesday, South Carolina Forestry Commission law enforcement officials arrested Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh,19, of Taylors, SC, Tristan Tyler, 18, of Greenville, SC and Isaac Wilson, 18, of Greenville, SC. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office in South Carolina said while deputies were searching for a missing hiker March 21, they found a rapidly growing wildfire. Deputies immediately evacuated seven hikers, several of whom were questioned about the fire's origin, officials said. TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta rapper Young Scooter died after accidentally injuring himself, medical examiner says Muslim women say they were told to 'go back to their country' in Alpharetta parking deck Police: Woman held 2 teens at gunpoint after she said they fished near her property During the investigation, deputies brought in three adults and a minor for questioning. Pickens County detectives got evidence that they say identified who started the fire. According to the arrest warrant affidavits, the suspects were smoking on a hiking trail at the state park and did not put their cigarettes out properly and safely. Authorities believe that led to the start of the Table Rock Fire. The trio was each charged with one count of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another. A minor was charged with the same charge, however, he was not booked and released to his parent. All three were transported to the Pickens County Detention Center and released each on a $7,500 bond. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] According to a park advisory, Table Rock State Park remains closed due to the wildfire but is set to reopen on Monday. Other trails will reopen as they are evaluated and cleared for safety.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
South Carolina arrests 3 young men for allegedly starting wildfire after failing to extinguish cigarettes
South Carolina arrested three young men for allegedly starting a massive wildfire after failing to "extinguish their cigarettes in a proper and safe manner," officials say. The Table Rock Fire near Pickens — located outside of Greenville — has grown to more than 15,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, of Taylors, and 18-year-olds Tristan Tyler and Isaac Wilson of Greenville, are each facing one count of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another. "According to the arrest warrant affidavits, the suspects took part in smoking activities on a hiking trail at the [Table Rock] 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 South Carolina Forestry Commission said in a statement. The agency said "Pickens County sheriff's deputies, state park personnel and other first responders discovered a rapidly growing wildfire" at Table Rock State Park on March 21 while searching for a missing hiker in the area. La Mayor Karen Bass Accused Of Deleting Texts In Wake Of Wildfire Disaster "As part of their response, the search group located and evacuated seven hikers, several of whom were questioned about the origins of the fire," it continued. Read On The Fox News App "During preliminary interviews, four subjects," including "one minor, were relocated to the C. David Stone Law Enforcement Center in Pickens for follow-up questioning," according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Woman Accused Of Looting From Home In Palisades Fire Area While Wearing 'Palisades Strong' Shirt "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," it also said. "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 fire is currently 70% article source: South Carolina arrests 3 young men for allegedly starting wildfire after failing to extinguish cigarettes
USA Today
02-04-2025
- USA Today
Cigarettes ignited large Table Rock fire in South Carolina, officials say
Cigarettes ignited large Table Rock fire in South Carolina, officials say Show Caption Hide Caption Wildfires blaze across Carolinas, forcing mandatory evacuations Wildfires blazed across the Carolinas, forcing mandatory evacuations. The cause of the fires is unknown. Three South Carolina men and a teenager were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of starting the largest mountain wildfire in state history, the South Carolina Forest Commission said. The teens were smoking on a hiking trail at Table Rock State Park on March 21 and did not properly extinguish their cigarettes, sparking the inferno, according to the state agency. The Pickens County Sheriff's Office said Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, Isaac David Wilson, and Tristan William Tyler, both 18, and a minor, who was not identified, were charged with arson and negligently allowing a fire to spread. Data from the South Carolina Forestry Commission shows the Table Rock Fire has burned over 13,200 acres of land, making it the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina history. As of Tuesday, the wildfire was 30% contained. Recent rounds of heavy rainfall have helped firefighters battling the blaze by reducing fire activity at the burn site. The Table Rock Fire was one of several large wildfires that broke out across the Carolinas last month, straining firefighting resources as officials issued burn bans, evacuated neighborhoods and opened shelters. The downed trees and dry brush left over from Hurricane Helene fueled the blazes along with strong wind gusts and low humidity. Just east of the Table Rock Fire, the Persimmon Ridge Fire has burned over 2,000 acres of land and was 74% contained as of Tuesday, according to the forest commission, which said in an operational update that the fire "has ceased growth and will remain in its current footprint." The Table Rock Fire was discovered on March 21 while rescue crews searched for missing hiker Stephanie Womack. The search group evacuated seven hikers, including the teens, and questioned them about the origins of the fire. Marsh, Wilson and Tyler posted $7,500 bonds and were released. The juvenile was not booked and was released into his parent's custody. More: What to do after a wildfire? Here's what to do if your property is damaged
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cigarettes caused South Carolina's Table Rock Fire, Forestry Commission says
Three South Carolina men and a juvenile were charged with a misdemeanor Tuesday after authorities said their failure to properly put out their cigarettes sparked the Table Rock Fire, which has burned more than 13,000 acres. Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, of Taylors, and Tristan Tyler and Isaac Wilson, both 18, of Greenville, were arrested Tuesday morning and charged with one count each of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. A juvenile whose name and age were not released was also charged but was not booked and was released to their parents, officials said. The Table Rock Fire was sparked by their handling of cigarettes while they were hiking in Table Rock State Park on March 21, the Forestry Commission said. Arrest warrant affidavits allege '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 Forestry Commission said. The fire was 30% contained Tuesday. No injuries have been reported. Authorities were searching for a missing hiker on March 21 when Pickens County sheriff's deputies and state park personnel came upon the rapidly growing wildfire, officials said. They got seven hikers in all to safety and questioned them about how it started, the Forestry Commission said. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said on the evening of March 21 that investigators had identified the hikers who started the fire. Attempts to reach Marsh, Tyler and Wilson by phone Tuesday evening were not immediately successful. Online court records did not list attorneys for them. They were all released on personal recognizance bonds of $7,500 apiece, the Forestry Commission said. The charge of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another is a misdemeanor punishable with a minimum of five days in jail and a maximum of 30 days in jail if convicted or a fine of $25 to $200. The Table Rock Fire is burning mostly in South Carolina, but a part is in North Carolina. In South Carolina, 12,652 acres have burned, and 635 acres have burned in North Carolina, the Forestry Commission said in a daily update. Around 1½ inches of rain that fell on the fire complex has "significantly reducing fire activity," the commission said Tuesday. South Carolina is in its annual wildfire season, and the U.S. Drought Monitor largely classifies both it and North Carolina as either "abnormally dry" or in moderate drought. A second large fire in South Carolina, the Persimmon Ridge Fire, had ceased growth by Tuesday and was at 2,078 acres and 74% containment, the commission said. The danger of forest fires in South Carolina is typically highest from January through mid-April, the commission says on its website, because that's when most of the vegetation is either dead or dormant. This article was originally published on
