Latest news with #SCForestryCommission
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
No injuries or damage to structures as SC wildfires expand past 10,000 acres
Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County near the North Carolina border can be seen on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Wildfires in the Upstate have grown exponentially over the past week, forcing mandatory evacuations as weather conditions and debris from Hurricane Helene impede efforts to stop the flames spreading. No structures have been damaged, and no injuries or deaths have been reported, officials said during a Friday media briefing, one week after the first of the two fires started. Together, the fires in Greenville and Pickens counties had burned more than 10,600 total acres as of Friday morning, officials said. Both fires, which officials said were manmade, remained 0% contained. A statewide burn ban remains in effect. Four teenage hikers have been questioned by police about the Table Rock fire, and 'charges are pending,' according to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office. For more information Call (864) 467-3428 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. for more information on evacuations and shelters. Source: SC Forestry Commission The fires prompted mandatory evacuations for people nearest the flames. About 1,400 homes were evacuated as of Thursday morning, according to Greenville County Emergency Management. A shelter set up at Marietta First Baptist Church had about 20 people staying there Friday morning, said Kim Stenson, director of the state Emergency Management Division. The fire is the largest mountain wildfire in state history, surpassing a 2016 fire in the same area that burned 10,000 acres. 'We've never had a fire quite like this,' Gov. Henry McMaster said. Downed trees and other debris knocked loose when Hurricane Helene hit the state as a tropical storm in September are complicating matters, said Scott Phillips, head of the state Forestry Commission. Firefighters are struggling to get equipment onto paths blocked by the storm. Some trees fell across established fire breaks, meaning crews have to saw through logs to keep the fire from spreading even further. Dried-out timber also created more fuel for the fire. While that hasn't been the primary concern yet, it could become a much bigger issue of the flames reach areas where timber cleared from roads still sits in stacks, Phillips said. The debris 'is going to change the way we have to attack fires in the mountains of South Carolina and in the Hurricane Helene-impacted areas,' Phillips said. High winds combined with recent dry conditions have made the fires particularly difficult to contain. Crews have been working to create perimeters cleared of debris that the fire can't cross, but the wind has carried embers from the Table Rock over barriers as wide as 40 feet, Phillips said. 'With these fires and the conditions we're facing in the state right now, the dryness of the fuel, the extreme low humidities, the high winds that we're having, containment is very, very difficult to achieve,' Phillips said. Embers ignited parts of Table Rock State Park earlier this week, Phillips said. Table Rock, Caesars Head and Jones Gap state parks remained closed Friday, according to the state parks department. State Law Enforcement Division and National Guard teams had dropped more than 700,000 gallons of water on the fire by Friday, agency directors said. Air tankers dropped thousands of gallons of fire retardant along the northern edge of the fires Thursday, according to the Forestry Commission. Among them was a very large air tanker, which the commission used for the first time in the state. SLED has also been helping police monitor evacuated neighborhoods to prevent looting and keep roads clear of spectators who have been congregating, said SLED Chief Mark Keel. Much of the firefighters' focus has been on protecting nearby structures, officials said. One way of doing that is through burnout operations, in which crews intentionally light fires they can closely monitor to reduce the fuel leading up to buildings, slowing the uncontrolled wildfire. The fires are visible from miles around, said House Majority Leader Davey Hiott, who lives about 7 miles from the blaze in Pickens. His home isn't within the current evacuation zone, but he can see the glow of the fire on the side of the mountain from his front porch, he said. Upstate SC wildfires burn upwards of 2,000 acres 'There's smoke everywhere,' Hiott said. The high winds died down slightly Friday, helping matters somewhat, officials said. The National Weather Service is predicting rain Sunday and Monday, which could help firefighters control the blaze. 'Pray for the men and women out here, and pray for rain,' Hiott said. A fire near Myrtle Beach that ignited last month continues to burn. At about 2,000 acres, that fire is about 85% contained and has damaged no structures or killed any people, Phillips said. This month, the Forestry Commission has responded to more than 370 fires that burned more than 18,000 acres total, Phillips said. That's 'orders of magnitude' more than the commission usually sees in a month, and more than it has seen in some years, he said. April is typically the busiest month for forest fires, Phillips said. 'This is going to be a long season for us as we move forward,' he said. Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire envelops Saluda Hill Baptist Church in Cleveland, S.C., on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from a wildfire obscures Table Rock in northern Pickens County on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County obscures the sun on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire fills the skies in northern Pickens County near sundown on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Sun shines through smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County near the North Carolina border can be seen on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Pickens County Sheriff's deputies block traffic on S.C. Highway 11, also known as Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway, due to the Table Rock wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire envelops the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway (S.C. Highway 11) in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Table Rock in northern Pickens County is obscured by smoke from a wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Smoke from the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County near the North Carolina border can be seen on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) A sign alerts traffic to a road closure due to the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Sun shines through smoke from the Table Rock wildfire along a river near S.C. Highway 11 on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Table Rock in northern Pickens County is obscured by smoke from a wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) A sign alerts traffic to a road closure due to the Table Rock wildfire in northern Pickens County on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Firefighters gather in prayer as they continue to battle Upstate Wildfire
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina Forestry Commission said that the Persimmon Ridge Fire has grown significantly on Wednesday. It is now around 1,500 acres. Smoke has continued to rise as strong winds and dry conditions have intensified the fight for those battling the fire in Northern Greenville County. 'When you watch it on TV is one thing, but when you are right here and it is in your back yard it changes everything,' Radiant Church Pastor, Ricky Motes said. A staging area was set up at Faith Independent Baptist Church, off Geer Highway, for fire crews to refuel. They also had a briefing about their strategy for the day. The South Carolina Forestry Commission said burnout operations are underway as crews try to 'fight fire with fire.' 'When you think about fire, it needs fuel, it needs oxygen, and it needs a heat source,' Holly Welch, PIO for the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. 'If we can eliminate the fuel in front of the fire, when that wildfire comes down it just essentially has nothing to burn.' Motes joined fire crews and prayed over their fight. 'God we thank you for everyone of them,' Motes said. 'We pray for their safety and for your blessing upon them now.' Motes, who is retired from law enforcement, also had some words of encouragement. 'Your labor is not in vain,' Motes told firefighters. 'I want to encourage you today on behalf of our community and say man we love you guys. We are here for you. We want to help you in any way we can. Just know there are people praying for you.' The SC Forestry Commission said that crews from all over the country are here in our area helping out and will continue their fight to keep you safe. 'Obviously the safety of our fire fighters and public is first but then second is that structure protection and so they are focused on really trying to protect those homes,' Welch said. As of Thursday, the Persimmon Ridge Fire is 0% contained. Firefighters said that while they cannot control the winds, they have been able to keep all structures and homes safe from the fire, and no injuries have been reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
LIST: Wildfires burning in Upstate South Carolina, western North Carolina
(WSPA) — Wildfires are burning in the Upstate and western North Carolina, prompting evacuations in seven counties. High winds, abnormally dry conditions and debris from Hurricane Helene have only increased difficulty for firefighting crews. Since March 21, the has burned 4,556 acres and is 0% contained. Strong winds led to the wildfire breaching firefighters' containment lines on the southern front of the fire on Wednesday. The fire began while Pickens County deputies were searching for Stephanie Womacks, a hiker who was last seen on March 3. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said the fire was started by the 'negligent act' of a group of teenage hikers, cutting short efforts to locate Womacks. Officials with the SC Forestry Commission said high winds, low humidity and debris left over from Hurricane Helene have aided the fire's growth. Evacuations have been announced for Pickens, Greenville and Transylvania counties. Pickens County officials said people living on the following roads should evacuate: Ashtabula Road, Asia Li Lane, Audies Camp Road, Back Park Road, Bethany Cove Drive, Bethel Terrace, Between the Lakes Road, Bird Song Trail, Blue Mountain Way, Bluff Ridge Road, Bobcat Drive, Bridle Drive, Burgess Gap Road, Busted Rock Road, Caesars Head Highway, Chaney Hill Road, Cherry Blossom Lane, Chief Outacite Lane, Cisson Ridge Road, Cold Mountain View, Compass Rose Road, Cougar Trail, Country Creek Drive, Cripple Creek Road, Crystal Creek Court, Cunne Shote Roads, Curts Way, Dogwood Mountain Road, Dry Lake Road, Duckwood Lane, Elizabeth Drive, Epworth Hill Circle, Fish Hawk Road, Gaines Lodge Road, Gnome Hill Lane, Green Acres Drive, Gum Gap Access Trail, Gum Gap Trail, Happy Acres Road, Hardin Road, Hardwood Lane, Hatchery Lane, Hemlock Lane, Hummingbird Terrace, Hunters Drive, Highway 11, Jane's lane, Kalijah Lane, Lakeside Shelter Road, Ledge Road, Lifeguard Lane, Locust Ridge, Lodge View Road, Lynne Way, Mary Fraser Way, Misty Mountain Way, Mohawk Drive, Mulligan Ford Hill Road, Old Chimney Lane, Pinnacle Pavilion Road, Prayer Mountain Road, Pumpkin Lane, Pumpkin Mountain Road, Rainfall Court, Raven Cliff Road, Raven Court, Rescue Access Road, Ridge Springs Road, River Bluff Road, River Road, Rockcrest Road, Rockcrest Ridge, Rockview Court, Rocky Road, S Saluda Road, Saluda Hill Road, Saluda Shore Drive, Scenic Circle, Shepherd Springs Drive, Shop Road, State Line Road, T R Campground Road, Trinity Trail, Turkey Mountain Road, Tuscarora Loop, Unnamed Road, Walker Creed Drive, Wayside Drive, Weaver Creek Trail, Wesley Meadow Lane, West Gate Road, White Oaks Lane, Wild Brook Drive, Winding Trail, Windward Court and Wotawok Trail. The state forestry commission said evacuees can call the Table Rock Public Information Line at (864) 467-3428 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The in Greenville County was first reported on Sunday night. As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the fire has burned 1,553 acres and is 0% contained. Officials said that late afternoon reports indicate fire has grown in size from 1,553 acres, but officials did not specify by how much. The fire expanded its eastern, western and southern perimeters, jumping west of Highway 276 and south of Persimmon Ridge Road. The fire was caused by people in the area of Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, southeast of Caesars Head State Park. Details of how the fire started are unclear. Greenville County Emergency Management said evacuations are in effect due to the Table Rock Fire and Persimmon Ridge fire being so close to one another. Greenville County Emergency Services issued mandatory, immediate evacuations for the following areas in the county: Asbury Drive, Bell Drive, Birchbend, Bowers Road, Boy Scout Road, Bridge View Court, Burgess Road, Caesars Head Drive, Caesars Head Highway, Caesars Point, Canyon Crest Trail, Chestnut Blf, Church of God Circle, Citivan Camp Road, Cliff Ridge Court, Cliff Ridge Drive, Club Terrace Drive, Columbine Way, Conifer Falls Road, Copperline Drive, Cross Road, Delphinium Court, Denford Cove, Duckworth Road, Durango Place, Echo Drive, Echo Drive Extension, Emerald Crest Lane, Foxglove Place, Geer Highway, Gintomo Road, Greylogs Trail, Hagood Road, Hemlock Trail, Howard Street, Hugh Smith Road, Highway 11, Indian Trail, Jack Ray Road, Jennings Mill Road, Jones Gap Road, La Plata Lane, Lakemont Road, larkspur Court, Larkspur Lane, Laurel Drive, Lawton Road, Lawton Road Extension, Look Off Drive, Matthews Creek Lane, Mountain Laurel, Mountain Laurel Drive, North Lake Drive, Nugget Ridge Lane, Oil Camp Creek Road, Old Springfield Road, Old U.S. 276, Pagosa Trail, Persimmon Ridge Road, Pinnacle Lake Road, Pinnacle Lake Road Extension, Pipe Line Lane, Point of View Lane, Punctatum Place, Ragsdale Road, Remickville Drive, Rhododendron, River Falls Road, River Rock Court, Rosemond Road, Saluda Hill Church Road, Sandia Lane, Sevenbark Lane, Sky Ranche Road, Sourwood Lane, Southside Drive, Spring Park Drive, Sunrise Drive, Table Rock Road, Table Rock Road Extension, Trails End, Treasure Trail, Trillium Way, Upper Oil Camp, Verbena Place, Wild Drive, Wildcat Road, Wind River Trail, Woodbine, Woods Pond Court and YMCA Camp Road. Residents evacuating from Pickens and Greenville counties can go to Marietta First Baptist Church at 2936 Geer Highway in Marietta. According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, 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 fire departments helped work to tackle the fire on Wednesday. A statewide burning ban remains in effect for South Carolina, meaning all outside burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires are prohibited until further notice. Multiple wildfires started in Polk County last week. So far, the has burned 3,052 acres and is 17% contained. Evacuations have been announced for Polk and Henderson counties. The fire was started by a downed power line around 2 p.m. on March 19. The blaze has destroyed seven homes and significantly damaged one. Seven outbuildings were also destroyed in the fire. Officials said the fire remains active in the steeper parts of Green River Gorge. The burned 3,231 acres and is 11% contained. Evacuations have been announced for Polk and Henderson counties. The NC Forest Service said the Deep Woods fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and the Holbert Cove community around five miles northwest of Columbus. Officials said one home and three outbuildings have been destroyed. The is the smallest and most contained of the ongoing wildfires in the county. The fire has burned 199 acres, but is 86% contained. Three homes and one outbuilding have been destroyed. No evacuations have been announced for the Fish Hook fire at this time. The fire was caused by a downed power line. Polk County residents that have been evacuated can go to 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. Evacuated Henderson County residents can go to the Henderson County Parks & Recreation Athletics and Activities Center at 708 South Grove Street in Hendersonville. Transylvania County Chairman Jason Chappell declared a state of emergency after both of the fires moved closer to the county on Tuesday. Mandated evacuations were announced Tuesday night, for residents in the Big Hill Community, Glady Fork Road, Lake Honda and the Happy Acres area. As of Wednesday night, 758 structures are being evacuated in the southern parts of the county. A curfew is in place from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. for residents living south of Highway 276 to the state line and south of Staton Road and the gravel part of Cascade Lake Road. Crews are going door-to-door to alert residents of the evacuations. Evacuees are asked to go to the county Parks and Recreation building at 1078 Ecusta Road in Brevard. A has burned 1,000 acres, county officials said Wednesday. According to Swain County Emergency management, three roads in the county are under evacuation. The fire is 0% contained at this time. The cause of the fire is unknown. The Rattlesnake Branch fire is currently burning in Haywood County. So far, the fire has burned 175 acres and is 0% contained. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the fire started on state land Wednesday afternoon near Cruso Road. Officials said the fire has crossed into the Pisgah National Forest. The Shining Rock Wilderness area is closed; visitors have been evacuated from the area. The wildfire is affecting travel on the Blue Ridge Parkway from mile marker 405 to mile marker 420. People have been asked to avoid the area; there are currently no active evacuations. Officials have not yet said what caused the fire. A wildfire is burning at South Winds Drive near Highway 221. The size of the fire is unknown. According to Rutherford County Emergency Management, the fire has been roughly contained as of 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Evacuations are in effect for residents of South Winds Drive and Davenport Road in Rutherfordton. An emergency shelter is located at First Presbyterian Church at 252 N. Washington Street. A 60-acre wildfire is burning in the Dix Creek and Leicester area of Buncombe County. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire is 0% contained. Crews responded to the scene and have asked that people avoid the area. The Monteith Branch brush fire was first reported around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. So far, the fire has burned 50 acres and is 0% contained. The fire is near Skyland Drive in Sylva. No evacuations have been announced at this time. According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, a wildfire burned 15 acres near Hart Lankford Road. The fire was 100% contained, as of 5:57 p.m. Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
LIST: Wildfires burning in the Upstate, WNC, Georgia
(WSPA) — Wildfires are burning in the Upstate, western North Carolina, and Georgia prompting evacuations in seven counties. High winds, abnormally dry conditions and debris from Hurricane Helene have only increased difficulty for firefighting crews. Since March 21, the has burned 2,293 acres and is 0% contained. The fire began while Pickens County deputies were searching for Stephanie Womacks, a hiker who was last seen on March 3. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said the fire was started by the 'negligent act' of a group of teenage hikers, cutting short efforts to locate Womacks. Officials with the SC Forestry Commission said high winds, low humidity and debris left over from Hurricane Helene have aided the fire's growth. Evacuations have been announced for Pickens, Greenville and Transylvania counties. The in Greenville County was first reported on Sunday night. So far, the fire has burned 996 acres and is 0% contained. According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission, the fire was caused by people in the area of Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, southeast of Caesars Head State Park. Details regarding how the fire started are unclear. Greenville County Emergency Management said evacuations are in effect due to the Table Rock Fire and Persimmon Ridge fire being so close to one another. Residents evacuating from Pickens and Greenville counties can go to Marietta First Baptist Church Multiple wildfires started in Polk County last week. So far, the has burned 3,046 acres and is 0% contained. Evacuations have been announced for Polk and Henderson counties. The fire was started by a downed power line around 2 p.m. on March 19. The burned 2,923 acres and is 0% contained. Evacuations have been announced for Polk and Henderson counties. The NC Forest Service said the Deep Woods fire is burning on state-owned and private land in the Green River Gorge and the Holbert Cove community around five miles northwest of Columbus. The is the smallest and most contained of the ongoing wildfires in the county. The fire has burned 199 acres, but is 72% contained. No evacuations have been announced for the Fish Hook fire at this time. The fire was caused by a downed power line. Polk County residents that have been evacuated can go to 75 Carmel Lane in Columbus. Evacuated Henderson County residents can go to the Henderson County Parks & Recreation Athletics and Activities Center at 708 South Grove Street in Hendersonville. A has burned 1,000 acres, county officials said Wednesday. According to Swain County Emergency management, three roads in the county are under evacuation. The fire is 0% contained at this time. The cause of the fire is unknown. The Rattlesnake Branch fire is currently burning in Haywood County. So far, the fire has burned 75 acres and is 0% contained. There are currently no evacuations in effect. Officials have not yet said what caused the fire. A wildfire is burning at South Winds Drive near Highway 221. The size of the fire is unknown. According to Rutherford County Emergency Management, the fire has been roughly contained as of 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Evacuations are in effect for residents of South Winds Drive and Davenport Road in Rutherfordton. An emergency shelter is located at First Presbyterian Church at 252 N. Washington Street. A 25-acre wildfire is burning in the Dix Creek and Leicester area of Buncombe County. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire is 0% contained. Crews responded to the scene and have asked that people avoid the area. The Monteith Branch brush fire was first reported around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. So far, the fire has burned 20 acres and is 0% contained. The fire is near Skyland Drive in Sylva. No evacuations have been announced at this time. According to the Georgia Forestry Commission, a wildfire has burned 15 acres near Hart Lankford Road. The fire is 0% contained at this time. The Hart County Sheriff's Office urged drivers to avoid Lankford Road between Bowersville Highway and Adamstown Road. The road is closed due to the fire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Covington Drive fire remains 55% contained into eighth day of response as Florida team takes command
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A Florida-based incident management team has taken over operations at the Covington Drive fire, which remains 55% contained eight days after igniting in a Carolina Forest neighborhood, officials said. 'This will give SC Forestry Commission firefighters the opportunity to get some much-needed rest and then be available to fight fires back in their home units,' the agency said in a news release. Still holding at 2,059 acres, crews planned to spend Saturday reinforcing firebreaks, suppressing hot spots and patrolling containment lines. Horry County spokeswoman Mikayla Moskov said earlier in the day operations are 'moving in a positive direction,' with hot spots primarily inside peat within the Carolina Bays wetlands. South Carolina, Florida and 11 other states are a part of the Southeastern Forest Fire Compact, which allows for firefighting personnel and resources to be shared across state lines, the Forestry Commission said. Activation of the compact is a common practice employed by forestry agencies throughout the south and across the country to bolster firefighting efforts in areas that are experiencing unusually high or otherwise extraordinary fire activity. South Carolina Forestry Commission firefighters also go to other states, particularly out west, every year to assist on large wildfire incidents that would otherwise overwhelm local resources. All certified wildland firefighters and incident command system (ICS)-trained personnel, regardless of home state or agency, train to the same standards and under the same framework so that they can fall in seamlessly on any incident. Georgetown and Horry counties remain under a burn ban. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
