11/15/16 - Pinnacle Mountain Fire - 11am Update

For a downloadable, printable version of this update, click here.

Fire Activity:

Although firefighters made progress on the north side of the Pinnacle Mountain Fire yesterday, the test fire that was conducted showed that conditions were not favorable for an effective burnout. Light winds and moderate humidity levels should aid crews today as they reinforce firelines through this burnout operation which could encompass as much as 500 acres. Crews hope to burn away from containment lines in the Slicking Gap area which is near the NC/SC state line. Yesterday, firefighters constructed a dozer line from the state line to within about 100 yards of the Saluda River.  Plans are to complete this line today, which will help reduce the chance of the fire spreading to the west. The fire south of Saluda River is nearing full containment. Crews will continue to monitor and mop up any hot spots.

Fire Size: 8,903 acres, as of November 25, 2016, (Note: one acre is equivalent to one football field).

For a downloadable, printable version of the fire, click here.

Percent Contained: 

40 Percent 

Evacuations: 

No current evacuations 

Estimated Costs to Date: 

 $2.6 Million

Closures: Table Rock State Park remains closed as is its Trail System. Additionally, trail closures from Caesar’s Head to Sassafras have begun in preparation for burnout operations on Thursday. Table Rock State Park is expected to re-open in stages once State Park and Forestry Commission officials deem conditions are safe for the public. The Table Rock Trail System will remain closed until a damage assessment can be made, hazards cleared and repairs made. Additional information about the park and fire status is available at the Table Rock Visitor Center off Highway 11.

Structures: Structure protection teams are staged in high risk areas holding line, evaluating homes for risk and mitigating risks where possible. Structures threatened are in Pickens Co. (112), Greenville Co. (523), and Transylvania Co., NC (171) Populations effected are Pickens Co. (122), Greenville Co. (187), and Transylvania Co. (132)

Fire Crews/Resources: Type III incident management team, three Type II handcrews, three engines, two Type III Helicopters, four Type I Helicopters, nine dozers, three water tenders, two fire tracks and 258 personnel assigned.

Injuries: No injuries have been reported.

Fire Background: Human-caused, November 9, 2016, Table Rock State Park, 10.5 miles north of

Pickens, SC

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(Use hashtag #PinnacleMountainFire)

Twitter @SCFC & @PickensCountyEM 

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