South Carolina Teens Charged After 15,000 Acre Wildfire Ignited

Three teenagers have been arrested for allegedly igniting the Table Rock Fire in South Carolina by failing to properly extinguish their cigarettes while hiking on March 21. The fire has burned over 13,000 acres and prompted the evacuation of more than 1,400 homes and businesses. The suspects—Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, Tristan Tyler, and Isaac Wilson, both 18—face charges of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another, which could result in fines or jail time if convicted. A fourth suspect, a juvenile, has also been charged but was released to his parents. The fire is currently 30% contained, and Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency to aid firefighting efforts amid ongoing dry conditions in the region. Officials emphasize the importance of fire safety, particularly as the wildfire season progresses.