Firefighters gather in prayer as they continue to battle Upstate wildfires

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The South Carolina Forestry Commission said that the Persimmon Ridge Fire has grown significantly on Wednesday. It is now around 1,500 acres. 

Smoke has continued to rise as strong winds and dry conditions have intensified the fight for those battling the fire in Northern Greenville County.

“When you watch it on TV is one thing, but when you are right here and it is in your back yard it changes everything,” Radiant Church Pastor Ricky Motes said.

A staging area was set up at Faith Independent Baptist Church, off Geer Highway, for fire crews to refuel. They also had a briefing about their strategy for the day.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission said burnout operations are underway as crews try to “fight fire with fire.”

“When you think about fire, it needs fuel, it needs oxygen, and it needs a heat source,” Holly Welch, PIO for the South Carolina Forestry Commission, said. “If we can eliminate the fuel in front of the fire, when that wildfire comes down, it just essentially has nothing to burn.”

Motes joined fire crews and prayed over their fight.

“God, we thank you for every one of them,” Motes said. “We pray for their safety and for your blessing upon them now.”

Motes, who is retired from law enforcement, also had some words of encouragement.

“Your labor is not in vain,” Motes told firefighters. “I want to encourage you today on behalf of our community and say, man, we love you guys. We are here for you. We want to help you in any way we can. Just know there are people praying for you.” 

The SC Forestry Commission said that crews from all over the country are here in our area helping out and will continue their fight to keep you safe.

“Obviously, the safety of our firefighters and public is first, but then second is that structure protection, and so they are focused on really trying to protect those homes,” Welch said. 

As of Thursday, the Persimmon Ridge Fire is 0% contained. Firefighters said that while they cannot control the winds, they have been able to keep all structures and homes safe from the fire, and no injuries have been reported.