350-acre SC wildfire expected to grow due to dry conditions and steep terrain. Here’s where
The Mill Mountain Fire along the Chattooga River in northwestern South Carolina has grown to 350 acres and is expected to continue to expand due to dry vegetation and steep terrain.
The wildfire in the Andrew Pickens Ranger District near Mountain Rest was 70 acres Tuesday. Its cause has not been determined, Jeff Davids of the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday.
A burning ban was put in place for the area Wednesday, he said.
The fire, which started Saturday in the hardwood forest, is not threatening any structures.
Resources on scene include two helicopters, four engines and two bulldozers.
The Forest Service has requested adding a hotshot crew, an elite group of 18-22 firefighters trained specifically to fight fires in remote areas.
Various campgrounds and day use areas have been closed, including an area near Big Bend Road along the Foothills Trail, a 76-mile hiking trail that goes from Table Rock State Park to Oconee State Park.
Dr. Chet Walters, a critical care, internal medicine and pulmonary medicine specialist at AnMed, said people should be aware of the health hazards from wildfire smoke, which has been detected in the Upstate.
“Older people and those with underlying pulmonary issues are at a high risk of complications related to these airborne particles,” he said in a news release. “When wildfires cause local impacts to our air quality as we are seeing now, we recommend older people and those with lung problems to limit their outdoor activities and exposures to avoid complications from these fires.”
This story was originally published November 8, 2023 at 1:58 PM.