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Wildfires force evacuation of downtown Gatlinburg
WSMV.com ^ | 11-28-2016 | Stuart Ervin

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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: fire; gatlinburg; smokymountains; tennessee; tennesseefires
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To: RegulatorCountry

That is where we spent our honeymoon. :(


101 posted on 11/29/2016 5:29:40 AM PST by lupie
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To: ReformedBeckite
Here is a morning update on my post from Knoxville WBIR

Knoxville WBIR channel 10 news link to updates.

102 posted on 11/29/2016 5:34:32 AM PST by ReformedBeckite (1 of 3 I'm only allowing my self each day)
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To: ilovesarah2012

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!


103 posted on 11/29/2016 5:35:08 AM PST by To Hell With Poverty (I support a woman's right to lose.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

Whoa. I stayed there a couple of nights back in the early 80’s. I think it was a Hilton then.


104 posted on 11/29/2016 5:40:39 AM PST by Rebelbase (Please consider donating to the emotional-support porcupine program for college safe spaces.)
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To: Objective Scrutator
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 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.

105 posted on 11/29/2016 5:40:51 AM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: Rebelbase

We stayed in a house neat the gondola route. It is probably ashes now.


106 posted on 11/29/2016 5:42:16 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
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To: eyedigress
The cove is 30 miles away from the fires and a naturally protected area. Gatlinburg, not so much.

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.

107 posted on 11/29/2016 5:50:03 AM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: cva66snipe

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.


108 posted on 11/29/2016 5:56:34 AM PST by cva66snipe ((Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?))
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To: ReformedBeckite
Taken from that WBIR link I provided. It wouldn't let me copy and paste any thing so I carefully type it out in a document. I only included the Tuesday 7:30am and 5am updates. If this is not allowed please delete.

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.

109 posted on 11/29/2016 6:03:24 AM PST by ReformedBeckite (1 of 3 I'm only allowing my self each day)
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To: To Hell With Poverty

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.


110 posted on 11/29/2016 6:04:36 AM PST by ilovesarah2012
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To: NellieMae

My Parents Honeymooned at the Gatlinburg Inn. I hope that is among one of the spared buildings.


111 posted on 11/29/2016 6:11:10 AM PST by jaydubya2
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To: Amntn

I remember that pic from Yellowstone.


112 posted on 11/29/2016 6:14:12 AM PST by MileHi (Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: MileHi
I can't verify this info. Saw it on Twitter. Sounds bad if true..


113 posted on 11/29/2016 6:17:13 AM PST by IamConservative (Hillary walks while 100's of teens get prosecuted for mishandling Miley Cyrus MP3's..)
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To: IamConservative

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.


114 posted on 11/29/2016 6:23:11 AM PST by Qwackertoo (Worst 8 years ever, First Affirmative Action President, I hope those who did this to us SUFFER MOST!)
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To: RegulatorCountry

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’.


115 posted on 11/29/2016 8:41:57 AM PST by CottonBall (Thank you, Julian)
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To: House Atreides

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!


116 posted on 11/29/2016 8:49:14 AM PST by luvie (I love the troops. That is all....)
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To: cva66snipe
Gatlinburg website still up, announcing closures and such. One item listed, first one when you open the webpage, has #PrayforGatlinburg. As a native Tennessean, and still living in TN, it breaks my heart. 😟
117 posted on 11/29/2016 9:12:32 AM PST by Spirit of Liberty (It's morning in America again!)
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To: Rebelbase

Sheraton.


118 posted on 11/29/2016 9:21:11 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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To: cva66snipe
It was in the late 80's. Ripley's burned as well. Those were arson. This from 1975 looking up Airport Rd.



119 posted on 11/29/2016 9:26:28 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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To: cva66snipe

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.


120 posted on 11/29/2016 9:37:04 AM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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