Big SC wildfire grows, but is 25% contained. Here’s the latest from the Forest Service
A wildfire burning along the Chattooga River in northwestern South Carolina grew to 650 acres overnight, U.S Forest Service spokesman said Thursday.
Jeff Davids of the Forest Service said the Mill Mountain Fire was moving east, northeast and was 25% contained.
He said the cause is still “under investigation and undetermined.”
Clemson forestry professor Donald Hagan said he was not privy to the details of the investigation but it seems likely the fire was started by human action.
“That area has a good bit of recreational use — it could be an escaped fire, a discarded cigarette,” he said.
The forest is extremely dry and there’s been no lightning in the area lately.
Hagan said the area around the fire is normally quite wet, but there’s been no rain. The forest floor is full of sticks, logs and stumps that create an opportunity for fire to catch and grow. Plus, leaves are falling, adding more fuel.
The steep terrain is another factor in spread and the amount of time it has taken to put the fire out. It started on Saturday.
The firefight mainly involves firefighters walking into the area to create fire lines.
The underlying factor is fire is beneficial to the forest and some trees, particularly the Southern Appalachian Pine, which needs fire to open its cones.
The good news, Hagan said, is it looks like rain is in the forecast for this weekend and next week.
“We need a good soaking rain,” he said.
