Some progress reported in in the battle against the mountain wildfires in North Carolina overnight. However, the Upstate fires are still increasing in size and threat levels and none are close to being contained.
Clouds of smoke were visible from midtown Greenville down to 385 and Woodruff Road, just ahead of sunset. That added graphic testimony to last night's latest official assessment of the wildfire situation. Air quality alerts are posted for northern Greenville and Spartanburg Counties and all of Pickens and Oconee.
Health officials recommend people with respiratory issues limit time spent outdoor. The Table Rock Fire was still at zero percent containment, as of the time of this report and has grown to over 4500 acres.
The Persimmon Ridge blaze to well ove fifteen hundred, also no statistical progress on containment. The mandatory evacuations remain in force in both Carolinas. An 8AM to 8 PM curfew is in effect in southern Transylvania County.
Pickens County Sheriff Tommy Blankenship says criminal charges against the four teens blamed for starting the Table Rock fire will await the outcome of the disaster, in part because of the unfortunate possibility of fatalities, which would amount to manslaughter.
Wildfires continue in the Western Carolinas. Officials have ordered evacuations in Greenville and Pickens counties in South Carolina and Polk, Henderson, Transylvania and Swain counties in North Carolina. On Wednesday, SCDOT closed Highway 276 from Echo Drive Extension to Highway 8 in Greenville County.
