Three young men in South Carolina have been detained for allegedly causing a large wildfire by improperly disposing of their cigarette butts, according to authorities.

The Table Rock Fire, which is near Pickens, just outside of Greenville, has expanded to over 15,000 acres as of Wednesday morning. Nyzaire Jah-Neiz Marsh, aged 19, from Taylors, along with 18-year-olds Tristan Tyler and Isaac Wilson, who are from Greenville, have been charged with one count each of carelessly allowing fire to spread to someone else’s property.

The arrest warrant affidavits state that the individuals were engaged in smoking on a hiking trail in the state park at Table Rock. They allegedly did not put out their cigarettes safely, which authorities believe caused the ignition of the Table Rock Fire, as per a statement from the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

The agency said “Pickens County sheriff’s deputies, state park personnel and other first responders discovered a rapidly growing wildfire” at Table Rock State Park on March 21 while searching for a missing hiker in the area. 

Responders from the South Carolina State Guard look on as smoke rises from the Table Rock Fire in Pickens County, S.C., on Saturday, March 29. (AP/Matt Kelley)

“SCFC investigators along with Pickens County Sheriff’s Office detectives obtained evidence that they allege identified these subjects as suspects in the origin of the Table Rock State Park fire,” it also said. “The juvenile subject was charged with one count of the same offense; he was not booked, but was released into the custody of his parents.” 

Firefighters gather outside of the incident command post for the Table Rock fire in Pickens County, S.C., on Saturday, March 29, 2025.  (AP/Matt Kelley)

The fire is currently 70% contained.