Advertisement Burnout at Pinnacle Mountain fire showing positive progress State of emergency declared in Pickens County due to fire

Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A planned burnout being used to try to stop the Pinnacle Mountain fire was showing some positive signs of progress Thursday. The Forestry Commission said beginning at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, a helicopter equipped with an aerial ignition system began lighting the north slope of Table Rock Mountain. The fire slowly crept down slope and had nearly reached the Saluda River and the Table Rock Reservoir by Thursday afternoon. Around 1:30 p.m., the second phase of the operation began on the east and south slopes of Table Rock. On the ground, firefighters patrolled the firebreaks on the east side of the fire and performed burnout operations to secure those areas. Elsewhere, crews cooled hot spots near the fire lines. National Guard helicopters also dumped water on hot spots in the northwest area of the fire. "Today’s operations have helped move the fire toward containment," the Forestry Commission said. Residents near the Pinnacle Mountain fire were evacuated Thursday ahead of the planned burnout. The area north of SC Highway 11 from Back Park Road to South Saluda Road and north to Table Rock Reservoir was evacuated. East Pickens Baptist Church, at 2244 Gentry Memorial Highway in Pickens, is providing shelter to those who need it. Evacuees should plan to be away from their homes for 72 hours. Fire crews said the burnout is designed to remove fuel from the wildfire and help secure the east edge of the fire area before high winds arrive on Saturday. The Pinnacle Mountain Fire is less than 40 percent contained and has burned more than 3,630 acres. Several hundred more acres were burned intentionally on Thursday. A state of emergency was declared Wednesday in Pickens County because of the fire. The county council held an emergency meeting Wednesday morning and voted to authorize the state of emergency. A state of emergency allows the use of state resources to assist in preparation, response and recovery activities and the activation of an emergency operations plan. It also allows authorities to order evacuations and take other steps needed to prevent damages, loss or suffering. Efforts to contain the Pinnacle Mountain Fire involve numerous agencies and organizations, with nearly 170 personnel assigned to the operation.