TABLE ROCK, PERSIMMON RIDGE FIRES DECLARED 100% CONTAINED Forestry Commission officials announced Tuesday the Table Rock Complex fires, which burned through 15,000-plus acres in Greenville and Pickens counties and part of North Carolina, have been fully contained. The decision to declare the fires 100 percent contained followed another round of significant rainfall that moved through the area Monday. The Table Rock Fire ignited March 21 and burned 13,845 acres before being contained, while the Persimmon Ridge Fire burned 2,128 acres after igniting March 22. Resources remaining on the fires will continue to focus on suppression repair, which involves stabilizing exposed soil with seed and straw to prevent erosion and remove dirt and debris from stream crossings. Water bars will also be installed on containment lines to divert surface water runoff back into the woods. The fires will be considered controlled once it has been determined that firefighting resources are no longer needed at the site.

FORESTRY COMMISSION ISSUING STATEWIDE RED FLAG FIRE ALERT The South Carolina Forestry Commission is issuing a statewide Red Flag Fire Alert, effective immediately until further notice. The Commission plans to reevaluate conditions Sunday. The alert is being issued to strongly discourage people from burning outdoors when weather conditions present an elevated risk of wildfire. A cold front moving across the state today will usher in low relative humidities throughout the weekend, accompanied by sustained periods of gusty winds. While the frontal passage may result in precipitation in some areas today, the expected amounts of rainfall will not be significant enough to remediate already-dry fuels on the ground over much of the state. A Red Flag Fire Alert does not prohibit outdoor burning, provided that all other state and local regulations are followed, but the Forestry Commission uses the alert to strongly encourage citizens to voluntarily postpone any such burning until the alert is lifted. Land managers who are considering conducting prescribed fires should take extra care if they choose to burn under a Red Flag. “The combination of wind, low relative humidity and dry fuels is very favorable for wildfire ignitions, so we ask that people who don’t have to burn to hold off until these conditions subside,” said SCFC Fire Chief Darryl Jones. “The dramatic uptick in wildfires across the state over the last two months were in large part the result of exactly these typical springtime weather patterns.” The purpose of Red Flag Fire Alerts is twofold: in addition to discouraging people from doing any outdoor burning, it also helps to reduce the strain on local fire departments and other first responders who need to remain available for other emergencies. SCFC firefighters responded to 280 wildfires in February alone, above the five-year average for the second month of the year. The agency has already recorded 277 wildfires in March. Historically, wildfire occurrence in South Carolina is greater in March than in any other month. Although a Red Flag Fire Alert does not ban outdoor burning, it does trigger certain county or local ordinances that restrict outdoor fires, so residents should contact their local fire departments to check whether such restrictions apply in their areas. The alert will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission, whose fire managers will continuously monitor the situation. See the release here: scfc.gov/wp-content/uploads/…

FOREST HEALTH WORKSHOP: Join Clemson Cooperative Extension and SCFC for an informative day of learning in the Pee Dee! WHEN: Friday, March 14 from 8:30am to 3:30pm WHERE: Pee Dee Research & Education Center 2200 Pocket Rd. Florence, SC 29506 TOPICS: Pesticide regulation updates, pine insects and diseases, hardwood insects and diseases, herbicide application techniques, invasive species management and a timber market update. CREDITS: -4.5 hours of Core Pesticide Credits -5 hours of Continuing Forest Education Credits International Society of Aboraculture Credits have been applied for COST: $100 including lunch REGISTER NOW: eventbrite.com/e/peedee-fore…

WANTED: Your Bradford pear trees! Florence area property owners are invited to exchange up to five Bradford pear trees for an equal number (1:1 exchange) of FREE young, healthy, native replacement trees. WHY? Bradford pears are not native to the U.S. and have been widely planted in SC for years. While the blossoms are pretty, they have a pungent odor and the trees often break during storms. Even worse, Bradford pear trees directly contribute to one of the worst invasive plant species in the Southeast – the Callery pear. This program gives homeowners the option to remove Bradford pears and replace them with native trees. Doing so will help reduce the amount of seed that can grow into Callery pears and will help diversify the urban landscape. WHEN? Saturday, March 1, 2025 8am-11am WHERE? City Center Farmer’s Market 200 Sanborn Street Florence, SC 29501 HOW? Visit clemson.edu/extension/bradfo… -Pre-registration is required. Once available, click the "Register" link on the right under your city. -Take a photo of yourself with the cut tree (a selfie, if you will) and bring it to the exchange event. -Replacement trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. If your preferred replacement tree is not available at the time of distribution, you will be provided with a healthy alternative. Specific tree species cannot be reserved ahead of the event. *Any SC resident can participate and take part in the program, but only the property owner can register and get the trees. Property owners are responsible for tree removal. LEARN MORE: clemson.edu/extension/bradfo…

LAST CHANCE: Get your tickets! Clemson Extension Horticulture is hosting a one-day training for tree professionals to earn SAF CFE, ISA, and SC and GA pesticide credits. Join Clemson Extension Agents, Clemson University Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Conservation Professors, Clemson Dept. of Pesticide Regulation officials and industry representatives who will cover topics such as tree planting and care, stressors and diseases, pests and more.⁠ ⁠ WHEN:⁠ Wednesday, Jan. 29⁠ 9:00am to 3:00pm⁠ ⁠ WHERE:⁠ Clemson Extension TEACH Center at Citadel Mall⁠ 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. #c412, Charleston, SC 29407⁠ ⁠ REGISTER:⁠ bit.ly/UrbanWorkshopTickets⁠ ⁠ CREDITS OFFERED:⁠ 4.5 Cat 1 CFE (forestry credits)⁠ 1.25 ISA BMCA Science⁠ 3.75 ISA Certified Arborist⁠ 2.0 ISA Practice⁠ 3.75 ISA Utility Specialist⁠ 0.5 ISA Management⁠ 3.75 ISA Municipal Specialist⁠ 3.75 ISA Climber Specialist⁠ 3.75 ISA Aerial Lift Specialist⁠ 4.5 SC Pesticide Credits Cat 3⁠ 5 GA Pesticide Credits Forestry⁠ 5 GA Pesticide Credits Ornamental & Turf⁠ 5 GA Pesticide Credits Right of Way⁠

URBAN TREE HEALTH WORKSHOP: Clemson Cooperative Extension Horticulture invites urban tree professionals and professional applicators to take part in a one-day training to earn SAF, CFE and ISA SC/GA pesticide credits. Join Clemson Extension Agents, Clemson University Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Conservation Professors, Clemson Dept. of Pesticide Regulation officials and industry representatives who will cover topics such as tree planting and care, stressors and diseases, pests and more. WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 29 9:00am to 3:00pm WHERE: Clemson Extension TEACH Center at Citadel Mall 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. #c412, Charleston, SC 29407 REGISTER: bit.ly/UrbanWorkshopTickets CREDITS OFFERED: 4.5 Cat 1 CFE (forestry credits) 1.25 ISA BMCA Science 3.75 ISA Certified Arborist 2.0 ISA Practice 3.75 ISA Utility Specialist 0.5 ISA Management 3.75 ISA Municipal Specialist 3.75 ISA Climber Specialist 3.75 ISA Aerial Lift Specialist 4.5 SC Pesticide Credits Cat 3 5 GA Pesticide Credits Forestry 5 GA Pesticide Credits Ornamental & Turf 5 GA Pesticide Credits Right of Way