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.
Has anyone heard anything about Cade’s Cove? That is my favorite place.
husband’s cousin lives in New Johnsonville.
We haven’t seen significant rainfall in TN since August. Very dry. Tonight we finally got some here in Nashville.
Thanks for this post. I knew about the fires in Western NC but not the ones near Gatlinburg and Dollywood.
PRAYERS going out for all the areas affected! Praying for more rain!
I’m glad you posted. This is an important news story, and the first I’ve heard of it.
One of the fires at Gatlinburg is believed by authorities to be started by an arsonist, as was one of the fires at nearby Scott County (which happened a week or two ago).
The media says that liberals are environmentalists, even though they are probably responsible for wrecking a significant portion of the environment here in Eastern TN.
I hope the perpetrators were burned badly from the fires, and have to suffer from their burns for a long time.
I remember when the liberal ecoterrorists burned down the ski lodge in Vail.
I AM convinced here it is the Govt, they hit the rural areas where lots of Vets and Preppers lived also some Militia areas, burning our cover right off the top of us.
As of 10 p.m. local time Monday, at least 30 buildings in Gatlinburg were on fire, including a 16-story hotel and an apartment structure, according to the agency.
Yeah I’ve walked down few creek beds that were bone dry south of Murfreesboro, TN. I visited a small tiny damn out in the country nearby that was deep enough to drown in, and it was bone dry,
That photo is from Colorado.
It’s so dry I heard there are six month old bull frogs that haven’t learned how to swim yet.
That is a sad photo. Just think of all the wildlife in the National Park being affected. Not to mention the entire town of Gatlinburg. Wonder about the Sugarlands Visitor Center...
I was kinda waiting on this thread. I drove 25E from Morristown to Asheville today and got quite a bit of smoke around Hot Springs.
Chimney Tops fire exploded from 10 to 1500 very quick. 10 hotels on fire in Sevier County.
The guests need to leave.
We spent many Sunday afternoons this past summer driving through the Smokys, Cades Cove, and the whole area.
This is heartbreaking.
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