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.
Read your home page with interest. I am collecting material and starting to write a book about murder and terrorism in 1799 perhaps caused by men who fought with Tarleton’s vicious troops in 1781. Having been educated in the north, I knew nothing about King’s Mountain or Cowpens until I began my research. The significance of these and other battles in the area leading up to the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown is severely underappreciated. As part of my research went to King’s Mountain and Cowpens. Beautiful scenic areas throughout that area. So sorry for these terrible fires.
Heartbreaking. I hope and pray no lives have been lost.
There were many regional uprisings, skirmishes and such leading up to and presaging the Revolution, one of the more notable of which was the Regulator War in NC, with some scholars now crediting this as being the first shots of the Revolution. It’s more complex, dirtier and far-reaching than the sanitized version of the history books. The national historical narrative was, I believe, sanitized of southern influence due to the Civil War. Truth is, Jamestown was the genesis, not Plymouth. The origin of the Revolution began in the south, and the war was won in the south. No one will teach that, though. Not PC, and hasn’t been for 150 years.
Yes, it’s heartbreaking.
They’ve confirmed 7 dead and 4 are missing, and they expect to find more dead once they’re able to move around in the areas that were ablaze. That’s even more heartbreaking.
I hope the rain today gave them the break they needed to get the fires under control.
((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?
Howdy, EGC! (((hugs)))
All is well here. Just hope the fires in TN are contained soon. It’s worrisome.
Hope you and Bo have a GREAT day!
Good morning, Luv!
Good morning! Good to “see” you again! Things going well in your corner of the world?
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