SC wildfires in Greenville, Pickens grow bigger than ever. How large and what to expect next
The two large wildfires in the Upstate continued to grow on Wednesday, with one nearly doubling in size.
Despite ongoing efforts by firefighters, the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County both grew considerably. Table Rock nearly doubled in size to 4,556 acres, according to the S.C. Forestry Commission. The Persimmon Ridge Fire grew to 1,553 acres.
No injuries have been reported.
The mandatory evacuations ordered in Greenville and Pickens Counties on Tuesday were expanded on Wednesday as the fires continued to grow.
S.C. State Fire currently has 148 firefighters on scene to battle the blazes. The agency also has five special-purpose vehicles, 20 engine companies, nine tankers, 19 brush trucks, and three battalion vehicles, the forestry commission states. Another large response from State Fire is planned for Thursday to help with structure protection, the forestry commission states.
Meanwhile, SLED and other agencies provided air support water drops on both fires.
A statewide burn ban that was issued Friday is still in effect.
Why are the SC fires so difficult to contain?
The weather conditions have been the main impediment to slowing the growth of the two fires. Relative humidity dropped to an extreme low of 14% on Wednesday, the forestry commission states. Combined with gusty winds, the low humidity helped the fires grow rapidly as it has over the last several days.
Winds are expected to be lighter on Thursday, but relative humidity is forecast to drop again to a low 22% in the afternoon. Also, dry conditions are expected to last through Saturday.
According to the National Weather Service, there will be an approximately 50% chance of showers in the area on Sunday.
Many downed trees from Hurricane Helene last year are extremely dry and are also contributing to the rapid growth of both fires, the forestry commission states.
Table Rock Fire
The southern front of the fire breached containment lines on Wednesday with help from strong wind gusts. Wildland firefighters on the northeast side of the fire worked to establish firebreaks to halt the fire’s progress.
Officials hope to get air support on Thursday to drop fire retardant near those breaks to protect structures in communities threatened to the east and south of the fire, the forestry commission states.
Persimmon Ridge Fire
The fire continued to expand its eastern, western, and southern perimeters on Wednesday, jumping U.S. Highway 276 to the west and Persimmon Ridge Road to the south.
A night shift was established on the northeast side of the fire.
“The 20-person hand crew is doing incredible work holding containment line in that area,” the forestry commission states. “They are being assisted by eight smokejumpers, three UTVs with slip-on units, and one dozer.”
Wildfire evacuations
The evacuation shelter for all impacted residents is Marietta First Baptist Church at 2936 Geer Hwy, Marietta, SC 29661. A Table Rock Public Information Line – (864) 467-3428 – has been set up for evacuation information. The service is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The updated mandatory evacuations on Wednesday included residents of Oil Camp Creek Road east to River Falls Road south to Highway 11 west to West Gate Rd.
Below is a list of all the other roads in Greenville and Pickens Counties with mandatory evacuations:
Greenville County
- Table Rock Road
- Matthews Creek Lane
- River Rock Court
- Ragsdale Road
- Pipe Line Lane
- Gintomo Road
- Hagood Road
- Haygood Road
- Lakemont Road
- Caesars Head Highway
- Sky Ranche Road
- Asbury Drive
- Laurel Drive
- Saluda Hill Church Road
- Geer Highway
- Burgess Road
- Grey Logs Trail
- Caesars Point
- River Rock Court
- Spring Park Drive
- North Lake Drive
- Trails End
- Boy Scout Road
- Sevenbark Lane
- Larkspur Lane
- Table Rock Road Extension
- Mountain Laurel Drive
- Birchbend
- Sourwood Lane
- Conifer Falls Road
- Hemlock Trail
- Cliff Ridge Drive
- Rhododendron
- Trillium Way
- Chestnut Bluff
- Echo Drive
- Echo Drive Extension
- Jack Ray Drive
- Southside Drive
- Sunrise Drive
- Upper Oil Camp
- Woodvine
- Columbine Way
- Old Springfield Road
- Rosemond Road
- Burgess Road
- Lookoff Drive
- Club Terrace Drive
- Wildcat Road
- Punctatum Pl
- Point of View Lane
- Happy Acres Road
Pickens County
- Asia Li Ln
- Bird Song Trl
- Blue Mountain Way
- Bluff Ridge Rd
- Bobcat Dr
- Bridle Dr
- Caesars Head Hwy
- Cherry Blossom Ln
- Cisson Ridge Rd
- Cold Mountain View
- Cougar Trl
- Cripple Creek Rd
- Curts Way
- Dogwood Mountain Rd
- Dry Lake Rd
- Duckwood Ln
- Elizabeth Dr
- Fast Ln
- Fish Hawk Rd
- Green Acres Dr
- Hardin Rd
- Hardwood Ln
- Hwy 11
- Ledge Rd
- Locust Rdg
- Misty Mountain Way
- Mulligan Ford Hill Rd
- Pumpkin Ln
- Pumpkin Mountain Rd
- Raven Cliff Rd
- Raven Ct
- Ridge Springs Rd
- River Bluff Rd
- River Rd
- Rockcrest Rd
- Rockcrest Rdg
- Rockview Ct
- Rocky Rd
- S Saluda Rd
- Saluda Hill Rd
- Saluda Shore Dr
- Trinity Trl
- Wayside Dr
- Wild Brook Dr
- Winding Trl
- Wotawok Trl
