Three adults and a minor are accused of starting a 13,000-acre wildfire that forced rescuers to abandon their search for a missing hiker, the South Carolina Forestry Commission announced Tuesday.
Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, 19, Tristan Tyler, 18, and Isaac Wilson, 18, were charged with one misdemeanor count each of negligently allowing fire to spread to lands or property of another, according to the forestry commission. They were charged alongside a juvenile, but he was released to his parents’ custody and not booked in jail.
Officials say the suspects were hiking in Table Rock State Park on March 21 and smoking cigarettes. The young men, however, did not properly extinguish one of the cigarettes, igniting the wildfire, the announcement said.
Pickens County sheriff’s deputies and first responders were already in the area with a search party looking for Stephanie Womacks, 52, who disappeared March 3 while visiting the park, Sheriff Fred Blankenship said.
Womacks’ search was called off after first responders noticed the rapidly growing fires, and seven hikers were evacuated from the park, according to Blankenship and the forestry commission.
A spokesperson for the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office confirmed with HuffPost that Womacks is still considered a missing person.
Days before the fire broke out, Womacks’ son asked for help in finding his mother.
“I just think she’s someone that deserves to have every opportunity to be found, to be brought home,” Isaiah Wilkins told Fox affiliate WHNS. “I think anyone deserves that, but especially it being my mom, obviously I want that to be done.”
As of Tuesday, the fire had spread to 13,564 acres and was 68% contained, according to the forestry commission.
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The agency notes forest fire danger is usually highest from January to April due to dead vegetation. “Fires do not start or spread as quickly when vegetation is green,” the commission’s website read.
North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Bo Dossett also notes that dry conditions, wind and trees downed by Hurricane Helene fueled the recent wildfires.
The suspects were all released on personal recognizance bonds of $7,500, according to the forestry commission. They are now facing a minimum of five days in jail and a maximum of 30 days in jail if convicted or a fine of $25 to $200. An attorney was not listed in the suspects’ court records reviewed by HuffPost.