South-Carolina

South Carolina has a Very Large Airtanker fighting fires from above for first time

Published

8 months ago

March 28, 2025

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South Carolina has a Very Large Airtanker fighting fires from above for first time

The Table Rock Fire is the first time South Carolina has ever used a Very Large Airtanker.
See what airplanes are fighting fires in North Carolina and South Carolina.

South Carolina is bringing in the big guns to fight the rapidly expanding Table Rock wildfire. Very Large Airtankers, a type of water-dropping airplane, are on the scene to help first responders.

This is the first time in South Carolina history that this type of aircraft has been used in the state, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

The VLAT is just one of five types of aircraft fighting the raging Table Rock Fire, which grew expansively on Thursday, charring nearly 8700 acres as of Thursday evening.

The Table Rock Fire continues to rage on Friday, creeping north to burn in Transylvania County as well as the Upstate. Burn bans are in place across the two states and evacuation orders have been mandated for the affected counties.

Table Rock Fire is the largest, but not the only, fire burning North Carolina. First responders are also battling a large fire in Polk County, the Deep Woods and Black Cove fires; Swain County, the Alarka Fire; and Haywood County, the Rattlesnake Branch Fire.

What is a Very Large Airtanker?

Very Large Airtankers can deliver thousands of gallons of fire retardant at one time, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

It’s the largest type of fire fighting airplane and can hold around 9,400 gallons of flame retardant. The aircraft can hover at least 250 feet above the burning land and deliver the retardant.

This airtanker worked to contain the northeast end of the Table Rock fire on Thursday, March 27, according to the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

What types of aircraft are fighting the wildfires?

There is a lot of air power in South Carolina Friday to help contain the wildfires. In addition to the VLAT, at least four other types of aircrafts are helping first responders dull the fire’s rapid blaze.

Large airtankers are on the scene. This plane can hold between 2,000 to 4,000 gallons of fire retardant or water to suprress wildfires. Single-engine airtanks offer additional support, with the capibility to carry 800 gallons fire retardant or water.

Additionally, the South Carolina Law Enforcment Division and South Carolina National Guard are operating helicopters to fight the fire from above.

Western NC Wildfire map

See up-to-date information about the active wildfires in the region.

South Carolina Wildfire map

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South-Carolina

Colleton County man arrested for striking 4-year-old: SLED

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

Colleton County man arrested for striking 4-year-old: SLED

COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — A Colleton County man has been charged for allegedly striking a 4-year-old, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

31-year-old Garrett Scott Biering was arrested on Nov. 5 and faces a charge of unlawfully placing a child at risk of harm, SLED announced Wednesday. Biering allegedly struck a 4-year-old with an open palm on the thigh “three or more times,” causing the child to bruise, according to an affidavit.

READ MORE | “North Charleston police charge two with attempted murder after shots fired during dispute”

Biering was booked at the Colleton County Detention Center, and the case will be prosecuted by the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

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South-Carolina

Tigers Fall To No. 2 South Carolina, 65-37

Published

22 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

Tigers Fall To No. 2 South Carolina, 65-37

Columbia, S.C. – Nov. 11, 2025 –The No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks (3-0) used a 20-2 fourth quarter to pull away from Clemson (2-1), handing the Tigers their first loss of the season.

Senior guard Taylor Johnson-Matthews led the Tigers with nine points, while graduate forward Demeaera Hinds added eight points and a team-high six rebounds. Senior guard Mia Moore finished with seven points, and Rachael Rose contributed six on efficient shooting. The Gamecocks had four players in double figures, led by Joyce Edwards’ 18 points and a double-double from Madina Okot. (12 points, 12 rebounds)

Clemson struggled to find rhythm offensively, shooting just 23 percent from the field and 15 percent from three-point range, compared to South Carolina’s 45 percent overall and 56 percent from deep. The Tigers were outrebounded 48–31 but forced 12 turnovers and scored 13 points off those takeaways. With the loss, Clemson moves to 2–1 on the season and 0–2 against South Carolina under head coach Shawn Poppie.

HOW THE GAME WAS DECIDED

After the Gamecocks opened the game on an 11-0 run, the Tigers held score with the Gamecocks 24-24 until the end of the first half. The Tigers cut the lead to ten entering the fourth quarter, but were unable to click offensively in the final period allowing South Carolina to pull away to a 65-37 win.

HEAD COACH SHAWN POPPIE SAID

To follow…

UP NEXT

Clemson returns to Littlejohn Coliseum as the Tigers host American on Thursday, Nov. 13. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and the game can be streamed on ACCNX.

TICKETS

Fans can purchase women’s basketball tickets by calling 1-800-CLEMSON or at ClemsonTigers.com/Tickets/.

FOLLOW CLEMSON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

For complete coverage of Clemson women’s basketball, follow the Tigers on social media (X | Facebook | Instagram).

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South-Carolina

South Carolina man faces first-degree murder trial in deadly 2022 Fayetteville robbery

Published

2 days ago

November 11, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina man faces first-degree murder trial in deadly 2022 Fayetteville robbery

A South Carolina man will face a Cumberland County jury in November for his involvement in a deadly robbery at a Yadkin Road business.

Quinteel Pierre Harley, 37, of Loris, South Carolina, is charged with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in the death of Eddie Saez Jr., 34, of Fayetteville, who was shot and killed inside his Yadkin Road shop in 2022.

Harley’s trial is set for Nov. 14 in Cumberland County Superior Court. Assistant District Attorney Rob Thompson said it is the only murder trial scheduled for November.

Harley’s codefendant, Rasheem Grant, 32, of South Carolina, pleaded guilty March 5 to second-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in the killing. Grant was sentenced to 23 to 28 years, eight months in prison, according to court records.

Shopkeeper killed as he prepared to ring up items

According to search warrants, police responded to reports of a shooting around 3 p.m. Jan. 4, 2022, at Southern Swag City Boutique on Yadkin Road. Saez was found inside the store with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the autopsy report. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly before the shooting, surveillance footage at the shop recorded a man exiting an Infiniti SUV, entering the business and browsing as if shopping, according to the warrant.

The warrant states a second man joined him in the store, and the two continued browsing before bringing items to the counter.

As Saez began folding the items, the warrant states, one of the men feigned payin,g and then two intruders pulled out weapons. The record states that the men are seen on surveillance video ordering Saez around the store before shooting him.

The warrant states that after the gunfire, one of the men collects a firearm near Saez’s body, before both left the scene in the Infiniti SUV.

The record says that several anonymous CrimeStopper tips identified Harley as one of the suspects after police released photos to the public in a bid to identify the shooters, according to the warrant.

The record also alleges that latent prints found at the scene matched Grant and that his Grant’s phone records showed he was in contact with Harley and in the area of the clothing store three minutes before the first call to 911 reported the shooting.

Grant was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Columbia, South Carolina, 10 days after the killing.

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.

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