Helicopters from the South Carolina Army National Guard and partner agencies are leading aerial firefighting efforts against the Table Rock Complex Fire — now the nation’s top wildfire resource priority and the largest fire in South Carolina history.
Igniting on March 21 inside Table Rock State Park, the fire has since burned roughly 13,500 acres across Pickens and Greenville counties, stretching into western North Carolina. When combined with the nearby Persimmon Ridge Fire, which began the following day, the total area burned rises to 15,600 acres.
As of April 2, officials report the combined fire is 70 percent contained, crediting steady progress to coordinated ground and aerial firefighting efforts, along with much-needed rainfall in the region.
“We’re close to 850,000 gallons of water dropped on this fire so far,” said Maj. David Finleyson of the South Carolina State Guard on Monday.
Helicopter support, particularly from military and law enforcement, has been a critical part of the response. The South Carolina Forestry Commission’s aerial operations include two National Guard Boeing CH-47 Chinooks, two Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks, and a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Bell 412 conducting water drops. Airbus UH-72 Lakota helicopters are also on standby for communications, rescue, and utility support, coordinated by an off-site National Guard command and control team.
For the first time ever east of the Mississippi River, a large fixed-wing air tanker dropped fire retardant in the region on March 28, adding another layer to the multi-agency aerial campaign.
“[We] don’t want to be number one in this category,” said Russell Hubright of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, referring to the Table Rock Complex Fire’s status as the nation’s top wildfire priority. “[But] it does make us the top priority for resources all across the country.”
The fire response follows a statewide burn ban issued March 21, just one day after a Red Flag Fire Alert warned of dangerous wildfire conditions. Dry weather, wind-driven debris, and steep terrain have continued to challenge ground crews.
The Table Rock Complex Fire includes both the Table Rock Fire and the nearby Persimmon Ridge Fire. As of Wednesday morning, crews had contained 68 percent of the Table Rock Fire and 74 percent of the Persimmon Ridge Fire, aided by aggressive firefighting efforts and rainfall.
Authorities have charged four individuals — three adults and one juvenile — with negligently allowing the fire to spread. Investigators allege the suspects failed to properly extinguish cigarettes while hiking in the park.
The fire also disrupted an ongoing missing persons search. Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship said deputies and K-9 units narrowly escaped flames while searching for a hiker last seen on March 3.
“We’re very blessed that they were uninjured,” Blankenship said in a Facebook video message.
