Table Rock Complex Fire

The Table Rock Complex of 2025 is the largest and costliest wildfire in Upstate SC history, burning 5,000+ acres more than the Pinnacle Mountain Fire of 2016.

The Table Rock Complex, which includes the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County and the Persimmon Ridge Fire in Greenville County, is now the most destructive and costliest wildfire in the Upstate of South Carolina. The two fires burned a combined 15,973 acres in both South Carolina and North Carolina in March 2025. A “complex” means there are two or more fires in the same area.

Previously, the Upstate’s largest wildfire was the Pinnacle Mountain fire in 2016, which was just to the west of the Table Rock Complex and included portions of the area affected by the 2025 fire. The Pinnacle Mountain Fire burned 10,623 acres. The Table Rock Complex burned in Table Rock State Park and Caesars Head State Park, as well as neighboring areas in South Carolina and North Carolina. The wildfires caused evacuations, highway and state park closures. No injuries or deaths were reported and no homes were destroyed. Incident Commander Kyle Smith and county emergency management organizations evacuated approximately 1,300 residents in two days.

Before the Blazes

A statewide Red Flag Fire Alert was put into effect on Thursday, March 20 due to weather conditions contributing to elevated fire danger. On March 21, a State Forester’s Burning Ban was issued statewide due to ongoing weather conditions that were favorable for wildfires. The ban was eventually lifted for all counties on April 2.

Initial Attack

The Table Rock Fire ignited on Friday, March 21 in Pickens County. It quickly grew to 13,845 acres and crossed into North Carolina before being contained. The fire was allegedly caused after teenagers failed to properly put out their cigarettes while hiking on a trail in Table Rock State Park. Three adults and a minor were charged with negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another.
The Persimmon Ridge Fire ignited on Saturday, March 22, just one day after the Table Rock Fire started. It began in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area southeast of Caesar’s Head State Park and grew to 2,128 acres in Greenville County before being contained. The fire was determined to be “human-caused,” however the specific cause has not been disclosed.

Assistance

Both areas were littered with heavy fuels downed by Hurricane Helene in late 2024. Firefighting efforts focused on breaking up fuels and establishing containment lines. Ongoing drought, low humidities and high, gusty winds elevated fire weather conditions, causing the fires to spread quickly. Numerous spot fires led to new ignitions outside of the original fire area.
Due to the wildfires’ locations in steep, mountainous terrain, an aerial assault of water and retardant was accomplished by tankers, scoopers and helicopters totaling 1,011,433 gallons of water dropped.

The aerial assault was accompanied by hand crews and dozers clearing wide containment lines to hold the fire. This process was very time-consuming with the dense, large debris types that were downed by the hurricane. Crews had to cut and push their way through the debris field. Rain moved in at the end of March, humidities went up and the fire calmed down.

The SC Forestry Commission Incident Management Team (IMT) deployed March 23 to 27. The Southern Area Blue Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) assumed management responsibility for the complex March 28 to April 4, in unified command with South Carolina Forestry Commission, Greenville County Emergency Management and Pickens County Emergency Management. The incident was supported by the South Carolina Emergency Management Department, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water and multiple local fire departments.
More than 500 firefighters battled the blaze on the ground, cutting firebreaks, sawing fallen trees and pushing through the thick hurricane debris.

The complex was declared contained and controlled April 7.