• 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