Administrator: Table Rock Complex is largest South Carolina wildfire to date; county reports evacuations and extensive response efforts

Greenville County's administrator reported that two wildfires burning in the county remain active and have required a major multi-agency response, and said that no structures had been lost during the incidents.

At the council meeting the administrator said, “Persimmon Ridge Fire is 2,078 acres, 74% contained. Table Rock Fire is 13,287 acres with 30% containment.” He added that the Table Rock Complex had become the largest wildfire in South Carolina history, saying later in his remarks that the complex was “13,167 acres to date.” The administrator said the recent rain had helped containment efforts.

Why it matters: large wildfires have direct local impacts on public safety, roads, evacuations and emergency resources. The county reported mandatory evacuations, extensive air support and a statewide mobilization that required sustained coordination among local, state and federal agencies.

Response and statistics reported The administrator told council the South Carolina firefighter mobilization coordinated almost 1,000 firefighters and more than 400 apparatus since March 22, 2025; there were 707 air-drop missions delivering about 845,000 gallons of water and roughly 170 flight hours. At the height of the fires the county issued mandatory evacuation orders for 856 homes within Greenville County. The administrator credited firefighters, EMS, the sheriff’s office, the state fire marshal, state and federal forestry services and South Carolina Emergency Management for the response.

He also said the Table Rock Complex incident was listed as the nation’s top-priority fire for four days and that, in a first for South Carolina, a very large air tanker dropped retardant on a structure near Cliff Ridge. The administrator reported that no structures have been lost during the incidents.

Follow-up and community requests Councilor McGahee asked whether donation drop-off points for supplies remained open; the administrator said he would check and share information on the county website. McGahee also asked about a previously billed payment for electric chargers in a county garage; the administrator said the county had received payment after billing and shared a copy of the check with McGahee.

What was not resolved The administrator provided current containment and acreage figures and described the response effort; the council did not take new policy or budget action during the meeting on the fires. Several figures cited in the report appear at different points in the remarks (for example, the Table Rock Complex acreage was stated as both 13,287 acres and later as 13,167 acres); the council record lists the numbers as reported by the administrator.