Posted on 11/28/2016 9:00:50 PM PST by ReformedBeckite
GATLINBURG, TN (WSMV) -
One of Tennessee’s most popular tourist destinations is being evacuated due to wildfires. Downtown Gatlinburg and numerous area neighborhoods, including the southern part of Pigeon Forge, are under a mandatory evacuation.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has declared a level three state of emergency for the affected areas. TEMA says 30 structures are currently on fire in Gatlinburg, including a 16-story hotel.
The Tennessee National Guard will be deployed to Sevier County to assist with clearing and removing debris.
Officials said there are no reports of fatalities at this time. At least one person suffered a burn injury and minor injuries were reported in an accident involving a fire truck.
TEMA is asking Sevier County residents to stay off mobile devices unless it is an emergency.
The National Weather Service says nobody is being allowed into the city at this time.School buses are being used for emergency transport.
Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller is asking the public for prayers and asking everyone to stay off the highways so emergency vehicles have full access.
Fire officials decided to impose the evacuation around 6 p.m. Shelters have been set up in multiple locations.
Sevier County Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the fires.
A fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has grown to about 500 acres because of strong winds. It began to spread rapidly due to strong winds on Monday.
The fire has been burning since last Wednesday and has forced several roads and trails in the parks to close.
Heavy winds are still expected in Sevier County until Tuesday morning, but rainfall is moving into the area.
That is where we spent our honeymoon. :(
Ooh scary. I hope you all stay safe.
My husband and I would love to go to Asheville. We are huge Arts and Crafts Movement buffs and have always wanted to go to the big yearly conference at the Grove Park Inn. I know the area is gorgeous despite the hippy element. ;)
We have a town here in the Ozarks called Eureka Springs that is probably similar. Hippies, devoted Christians, and bikers all living in harmony in an old timey Victorian town, lol. Thank the Lord no fires so far!
Whoa. I stayed there a couple of nights back in the early 80’s. I think it was a Hilton then.
I was taking my grandson to Anderson Co high this morning. For the first time in over a month I could see the mountains up around Briceville from the Clinton Exit. One fire up near Cove Lake burned a couple of weeks and another one was burning in Beach Grove last week. I live about 7 miles from Norris Dam.
We stayed in a house neat the gondola route. It is probably ashes now.
NPS finally wised up a few years ago and allowed controlled burns in Cades Cove. The unwanted fires decreased greatly due to lack of fuel. Gatlinburg has US 441 running through downtown. Cades Cove can be closed at the Y if needed. NWS said winds were plus 60 MPH up at Newfound Gap last night. One thing really hurt too is leaves turned brown and half fell to the ground and half stayed on the trees creating ground and tree top fires. Looks like about six tenths of rain last night in Oak Ridge. The website for Sevierville is down and AWOS is likely down also there.
Anybody besides me remember when Rebel Corner burned down? I think that was in the 1970’s? Rebel Corner was a block of Gatlinburg and at that time one of the main attractions for shops. This is the worst drought in East Tennessee since 1986 and I remember that one real well. Same thing smoke filled skies for weeks and the ground cracking along with brown grass.
Gatlinburg-7:30a.m. Tuesday Update:
A Sevier County fire has destroyed 75-100 homes Cobbly Nob area of Gatlinburg. There are no reports of fatalities or major injuries as of 7:30 am Monday(I believe they meant Tusday). About 1,300 people are in shelters throughout Sevier County. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park have closed all facilities in the park on Tuesday due to extensive fire activity and downed trees. GSMNP headquarters do not have power or phone services.
5 a.m. Tuesday UPDATE: Authorities rescued 29 backcountry hikers from wildfires in Sevier County , according to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent Cassius Cash. Cash said there were not any major injuries or fatalities as of 5 a.m. Tuesday. There is one report of an evacuee suffering a burn injury. “I've been in federal service for 25 years, and I've fought fires on the West Coast and the East Coast and have been with the Forest Service as well,” Cash said. “Nothing that we've experienced in those 24 hours has prepared for what we've experienced here in the last 24 hours. (It's been unbelievable what we've experienced here.” Cash called the wildfires “unprecedented.” Cash said Gatinburg fire officials said winds reached up to 80 mph. Winds sustained at 30-40 mph about 10-12 hours. The winds coupled with the 500-acre wildfire in Gatlinburg according to Cash.
Asheville has a lot of great people but the government is mostly fruitcakes. They flew the rainbow flag on City Hall when gay marriage was passed. Very expensive housing and lots of low-paying jobs.
My Parents Honeymooned at the Gatlinburg Inn. I hope that is among one of the spared buildings.
I remember that pic from Yellowstone.
Wow. So very sad. Just there in May. Been there many times. May was daughters wedding in Newport @ Christopher’s Place. Just seeing video coverage story on Fox News this a.m.
things are great today - the rain washed away the smoke and hopefully, dampened the fires. We’re not near the fires but there’s been quite a few around us, this one plus some in NC.
thanks for checking on me! btw, i’m a ‘she’.
It did pour for a while but have seen video of so many places destroyed in Gatlinburg. So horrible...it’s such a beautiful place.
I do think they got all the eagles evacuated. PetSmart gave them every kennel off their shelves to help them in their effort.
There ARE good people!
Sheraton.
73 is open to Metcalf Bottoms. I know this area well. I was one of those cliff divers at the Y.
I hate to see this as the terrain is steep and quite thick.
Very hard to contain a wildfire.
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