McMaster to hold briefing on state response to South Carolina wildfire

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. — The Table Rock Complex fire in upstate South Carolina has grown to over 10,000 acres in size after “significant” spreading on Thursday, state officials said. 

The South Carolina Forestry Commission said weather conditions that created dramatic fire activity earlier this week weren’t as bad on Thursday, but gusty conditions are likely Friday, which can cause rapid expansion of wildfires. As of 10 p.m. Friday, the Table Rock fire was 8,679 acres, while the Persimmon Ridge fire is 1,992 acres. Because those fires are close, they’re being referred to as the Table Rock Complex. 

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Gov. Henry McMaster is scheduled to hold a media briefing with state emergency management officials at 11:15 a.m. Friday to update the state’s response to the Table Rock Complex Fire. McMaster’s news conference will be streamed live on WCNC+. 

Derrick Moore with the South Carolina Forestry Commission said crews have seen a lot of good progress with containment lines on the eastern edge of the Table Rock Complex. The northeast corner will be a priority for fire crews on Friday to prevent the flames from reaching structures and neighboring communities. 

“A lot of good focus, a lot of good people and a lot of confidence in this area,” Moore said. “If we can secure from here all the way around, then we’re really cutting off the fire progression toward the communities here and the Highway 11 corridor.”

Another area of concern is near the North Carolina state line. Moore compared it to the 2016 wildfires, which burned at the top of the ridge. He said crews are doing strategic burnouts to prevent the fire from spreading into North Carolina. 

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