Spread of Upstate wildfires prompts mandatory evacuations in Pickens, Greenville, Transylvania counties

PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Due to the spread of the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires, mandatory evacuations are in effect for parts of Pickens and Greenville counties.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission announced the evacuations on Tuesday night. The close proximity of the fires to one another factored into the decision to evacuate the areas, officials said.

Families have already began to seek shelter. The Marietta First Baptist Church at 2936 Geer Highway in Marietta has opened as to evacuated residents.

“It’s scary,” said Megan Miller, a Greenville County resident. “It’s scary because it’s one thing knowing that you’re about to lose something and you have a time crunch and what’s some more thing versus we just need to get up and go.”

Miller is a mother of 10. She said after Hurricane Helene, she knew it is better to be safe than sorry.

“I was going stir crazy. [I] didn’t even know what to pack and so we need to go ahead and leave because more than likely, we’re going to have to evacuate later,” Miller explained. “Sure enough, a couple of hours later, we started hearing on the radio that more people were evacuating and so we got out about 3 o’clock.”

The SC Forestry Commission said with increased fire activity on Tuesday afternoon comes urgent evacuations.

“We could see flames on the mountain and seeing flames during the daytime is not a good sign,” said Madeline Stewart with the SCFC. “Of course we’ve seen a lot of smoke.”

Stewart said residents who must evacuate will be notified by law enforcement.

“The area is very smoky right now,” Stewart said. “We’re going to see increased fire behavior in the days to come especially overnight as we see these gusty winds. You don’t wanna go to bed not knowing whether you need to evacuate if you feel like you need to evacuate if you’ve been told to evacuate, please do.”

A statewide burning ban remains in effect for South Carolina, meaning all outside burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires are prohibited until further notice.

Mandatory Evacuations In Effect

Pickens County

Pickens County officials said people living on the following roads should evacuate: Asia Li Lane, Bird Song Trail, Blue Mountain Way, Bluff Ridge Road, Bobcat Drive, Bridle Drive, Caesars Head Highway, Cherry Blossom Lane, Cisson Ridge Road, Cold Mountain View, Cougar Trail, Cripple Creek Road, Curts Way, Dogwood Mountain Road, Dry Lake Road, Duckwood Lane, Elizabeth Drive, Fast Lane, Fish Hawk Road, Green Acres Drive, Hardin Road, Hardwood Lane, Highway 11, Ledge Road, Locust Ridge, Misty Mountain Way, Mulligan Ford Hill Road, Pumpkin Lane, Pumpkin Mountain Road, Raven Cliff Road, Raven Court, Ridge Springs Road, River Bluff Road, River Road, Rockcrest Road, Rockcrest Ridge, Rockview Court, Rocky Road, S Saluda Road, Saluda Hill Road, Saluda Shore Drive, Trinity Trail, Wayside Drive, Wild Brook Drive, Winding Trail and Wotawok Trail.

How will my child get to school?

The School District of Pickens County said the alternate bus pick-up location for students affected by evacuations will be at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at 620 Pleasant Grove Road in Pickens.

Ambler Elementary School students pick up time will be at 6:40 a.m., while pick up for Pickens Middle School and Pickens High School students will be at 7:40 a.m.

Families can also contact the Pickens Area Transportation Office at (864) 397-1173 to arrange transportation to and from school.

District officials said schools will show flexibility toward attendance, assignments and make-up work for impacted students.

Greenville County

Greenville County Emergency Services issued mandatory, immediate evacuations for the following areas in the county: Table Rock Road, Matthews Creek Lane, River Rock Court, Ragsdale Road, Pipe Line Lane, Gintomo Road, Hagood Road, Haygood Road, Lakemont Road, Caesars Head Highway, Sky Ranche Road, Asbury Drive, Laurel Drive, Saluda Hill Church Road, Geer Highway, Burgess Road, Grey Logs Trail, Caesars Point, River Rock Court, Spring Park Drive, North Lake Drive, Trails End, Boy Scout Road, Sevenbark Lane, Larkspur Lane, Table Rock Road extension, Mountain Laurel Drive, Birchbend, Sourwood Lane, Conifer Falls Road, Hemlock Trail, Cliff Ridge Drive, Rhododendron, Trillium Way, Chestnut Bluff, Echo Drive, Echo Drive extension, Jack Ray Drive, Southside Drive, Sunrise Drive, Upper Oil Camp, Woodvine, Columbine Way, Old Springfield Road, Rosemond Road, Burgess Road, Lookoff Drive, Club Terrace Drive, Wildcat Road, Punctatum Pl, Point Of View Lane and Happy Acres Road.

Transylvania County

Transylvania County Chairman Jason Chappell declared a state of emergency after both of the fires moved closer to the county on Tuesday.

Mandated evacuations were announced Tuesday night, for residents in the Big Hill Community, Glady Fork Road, Lake Honda and the Happy Acres area.

Crews are going door-to-door to alert residents of the evacuations.

Evacuees are asked to go to Carr Hill Church at 79 Becky Mountain Road will serve as a temporary shelter for evacuees.

County officials are working to establish a permanent shelter location.

This is a developing story. Stay up to date with 7NEWS on the air and online as more information is made available.