From Staff Reports

GREENVILLE, S.C. —  The Table Rock Complex Fire has become “the largest mountain wildfire in South Carolina history,” the Greenville News reported late March 30.

“According to data from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, as of Saturday (March 29) afternoon, the fires had grown to more than 12,000 acres, surpassing the November 2016 Pinnacle Mountain Fire, which peaked at 10,623 acres,” the GN noted. “As of Saturday afternoon, the Table Rock Fire was 9 percent contained, while the Persimmon Ridge Fire was 24 percent contained.”

Meanwhile, at 10:35 p.m. March 30, “The Table Rock Complex remains the nation’s No. 1 priority for wildfires based on size, evacuations, containment, and threats to property, according to the City of Greenville’s social media,” the GN stated, adding:

• “Foggy conditions halted air drops but increased moisture in the air, and solid ground operations were positive.

• “The concern on Monday (March 31) is thunderstorms. While rain is good, lightning and strong winds are not. Thunderstorms could make conditions too dangerous for air and ground crews, halting operations entirely.”

The newspaper also noted late March 30 that the Table Rock Fire size is 13,167 acres, containment is  9 percent, while the Persimmon Ridge Fire size is 2,078 acres, containment: is 24 percent — and “$60,000 of economic impact from the park closures is estimated.”

In addition, the the GN reported late March 30 that “Pickens County’s social media page reports that the Table Rock Complex Fire is now considered the highest priority wildfire in the nation” with “an estimated 600 people are engaged in response, from frontline work to food service, they wrote.”

Also late March 30, it was announced that a statewide burning ban would be lifted at 6 a.m. March 31 for 43 South Carolina counties. However, the counties remaining under the ban include Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

The ban is being placed in the remaining counties for several reasons, according to the SCFC.

For instance, “the sheer amount of Forestry Commission and fire department personnel/equipment dedicated to the Table Rock Complex in Greenville and Pickens counties, which includes two wildfires that have grown to a combined 13,000-plus acres, has the potential to strain the capacity of local response to new wildfire ignitions,” the SCFC stated.

As for the ban in Horry County remaining in place, the SCFC explained, “At the same time, Forestry Commission resources continue focusing on mop-up and strengthening firebreaks around the Myrtle Beach-area Covington Drive Fire, which is now 85 percent contained.”

According to SCFC, “underlying conditions still warrant extreme vigilance when burning outdoors. Above-average fire danger and activity are expected through April, which has historically seen the worst, most damaging, and costly wildfires in South Carolina. Anyone who burns outdoors and allows their fire to escape will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”