Gatlinburg itself for the most part is intact. The outlying cabins and homes look like Tokyo after the firebombing in WWII. The Park Vista Hilton hotel on a hilltop in Gatlinburg caught fire but was only partially damaged. I have stayed at this hotel and the video of the fires shows it to be very close to the hotel. Dollywood is fine although they lost a few of their cabins.
Rain tonight is forecast, hopefully a slow heavy rain to soak the ground and put the fires out. In my neck of the woods it has been one arson fire after another. Fire crews have been run ragged the last month. It would not be a good thing for one of these arsonist to be brought before me on a jury. They would be someone’s bit*h in prison for a long time.
I saw an article about a young kid being arrested for arson fire in Southern TN in August. But you mentioned arson fires becoming more common? Is there any reason to suspect ISIS? I know fires in Israel are terrorism and starting fires is a weapon jihadists have encouraged.
Or..actual coincidences. Just got me curious.