Large wildfires in the South Carolina mountains have rapidly increased in size over the past three days. Firefighters battling the Rock Mountain fire are working to protect lives and property by creating fire breaks on the Pickens County ridge near North Carolina. Currently, there have been no reported injuries. Air support, including planes and helicopters, has successfully dropped over 550 gallons of water on the Table Lock Fire and is also addressing the nearby Persimmon Ridge fire.
Scott Phillips, South Carolina’s Forester, stated that efforts are primarily defensive due to challenging weather conditions, including low humidity and strong winds, making fire containment difficult. The Table Lock Fire, which started a week ago, has doubled in size due to dry, windy conditions and now spans roughly 17 square miles. There are at least eight wildfires active in North Carolina, including the Black Cove and Deepwoods fires, which are currently stable but still pose risks.
The wildfire season has been exceptionally busy due to drought conditions and damage from Hurricane Helen, which left millions of fallen trees that serve as additional fuel for the fires. Phillips noted that firefighters have responded to 373 wildfires in South Carolina in March alone, burning over 28 square miles, a significantly higher number than usual for that month. April typically sees the worst wildfire activity, and forecasts suggest continued challenging conditions ahead.
As a precaution, outdoor burning has been banned in South Carolina for over a week, with authorities warning of serious consequences for violations. Governor Henry McMaster emphasized the gravity of this situation and expressed hope for rain over the coming weekend to aid firefighting efforts, urging the public to pray for improved conditions.
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