PICKENS, S.C. —
Four people have been charged in connection with the Table Rock wildfires in South Carolina that has burned more than 13,000 acres.
The fires started March 21 inside Table Rock State Park.
On Tuesday, the following people were charged with negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another:
South Carolina Forestry Commission
While involved in the search for a missing hiker in Table Rock State Park, Pickens County sheriff’s deputies, state park personnel and other first responders said they discovered a rapidly growing wildfire. As part of their response, the search group found and evacuated seven hikers, several of whom were questioned about the origins of the fire.
According to the arrest warrant affidavits, the suspects took part in smoking activities on a hiking trail at the state park and did not extinguish their cigarettes in a proper and safe manner, which officials allege led to the ignition of the Table Rock Fire.
The juvenile subject was charged with one count of the same offense; he was not booked and was released into the custody of his parents. The three adult suspects were booked into the Pickens County Detention Center and released on personal recognizance bonds of $7,500 each.
So far, the Table Rock fire and the Persimmon Ridge fire have burned more than 15,000 acres. Latest update on fire here.
Just before midnight the night the fires started, Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship posted a message on Facebook and said young men, whom he described as hikers, were responsible for starting the fire and that they had been identified.
What started the Table Rock complex fire in South Carolina?
Blankenship said the hikers were "negligent" and that negligence led to the forest fire.
Watch his full message from that night below:
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At the time, he said the investigation was being handled by Pickens County detectives and the South Carolina Forestry Commission.
The South Carolina Forestry Commission issued a Red Flag Fire Alert on Thursday, March 20.
Here's what that means, according to the commission:
"A Red Flag Fire Alert means conditions are favorable for a fire escaping easily and spreading rapidly. All outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. However, burning is not necessarily illegal. This is the most common notification you’ll see from this agency."
At 6 p.m. Friday, the Red Flag Fire Alert was upgraded to a statewide burn ban, which prohibits all outdoor burning, including yard debris burning, prescribed burning, campfires, bonfires and other recreational fires in all unincorporated areas of the state.
A time for when the fire started has not been given, so it is not known if the state was under a burn ban at the time.