11/22/16 Pinnacle Fire

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RELEASE from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, Pickens County Emergency Management Agency, Greenville County Emergency Management Division, River Falls Fire District, Pumpkintown Fire Department, Holly Springs Fire Department, Greenville County Fire Chief’s Association, Greenville Water, SC DNR and Central Utah Interagency Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      CONTACTS                                                                                                                            

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016                      Doug Wood, SCFC PIO         Kayli Yardley, USFS PIO          Brad Bramlett, SCFC PIO

                                                            (803) 968-1576                       (435) 864-8676                           (803) 940-2628

                                                            DWood@scfc.gov                  cufireteam1@gmail.com          BBramlett@scfc.gov

Fire sees moderate growth on the north, containment efforts stepped up

PICKENS—Overnight infrared flights of the Pinnacle Mountain fire reveal the blaze has grown to approximately 6,000 acres, as estimated in yesterday’s update. The fire has crossed into the northwestern sliver of Greenville County and up against the western side of Table Rock Reservoir. Incident command officials say the fire remains at 35 percent containment.

This portion of the fire, which escaped a small portion of the northern perimeter of the original containment area late Saturday is the most active area and continues to grow at a moderate pace.

The division of 60 hand crew members and three bulldozers assigned to this growing section is constructing lines from Table Rock Reservoir on the east around the fire to Benfield Road on the west where Greenville and Pickens counties meet.

Officials believe the addition of so many resources – two more hand crews arrived today – will be able to establish a line far enough outside of the fire’s perimeter to box it in to this new containment area.

More encouraging is the reduction in both the number and intensity of hot spots in the original containment region that encompasses the areas around Pinnacle Mountain and Table Rock Mountain.

The western and southwestern firelines are very well contained after successful burnouts. Most other personnel continue to concentrate their efforts on reinforcing and improving the lines on all other sides of the containment area. One Black Hawk and two Chinook helicopters continue to drop water on hot spots. More than 250 personnel are working on the fire today.

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The Pinnacle Mountain Fire began Wednesday, Nov. 9 and was caused by an escaped campfire. Efforts to control this fire have involved numerous local, state and federal agencies, with hundreds of personnel assigned to the incident so far. This mission is being coordinated under a unified command between the SC Forestry Commission and the Pumpkintown Fire Department (previously Holly Springs Fire Department).