S.C. Governor declares state of emergency for Pickens County fire

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency for the Table Rock fire in Pickens County in the Upstate, near the Georgia border.

The Table Rock Fire, which ignited Friday, is estimated at 35-plus acres and continues to grow. Personnel from the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC), The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water, the USDA Forest Service, and local fire departments are working to contain the fire. 

Currently, four aircraft are providing aviation support, including one SCFC airplane surveying the fire, two SCFC single-engine air tankers dropping water, and one SLED helicopter using a Bambi bucket to drop water. 

On March 21, 2025, the South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a State Forester’s Burning Ban for all counties. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, and campfires.

"As this wildfire continues to spread, the State of Emergency allows us to mobilize resources quickly and ensure our firefighters have the support they need to protect lives and property," said Governor Henry McMaster in a statement. "Given the elevated risk of wildfires throughout the state, the statewide burning ban will remain in effect until further notice. Anyone who violates this ban can and will go to jail."

North Carolina also declared a burning ban last week. According to the state's forest service, there are multiple fires with three in Polk County and one each in Wilkes, Burke and Caldwell counties. Fires have also been reported at the border of Stokes and Rockingham counties and Caswell County.

According to a statement from the North Carolina Forest Service, as of March 19, 2025, 1,040 wildfires have burned on state and private lands statewide since March 1. 99 percent of wildfires in North Carolina are human caused which means almost all wildfires are avoidable.