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.
Why are you posting a 15 year old photo?
Truly is heartbreaking. They thought the fire was almost contained, but high winds today took over. Just can’t imagine what those people in Gatlinburg are feeling. Plus the Park Rangers who take such good care of the Park, the wildlife, the structures, wildflowers, trails, etc.
And I read the Aquarium in Gatlinburg has over 10,000 fish/species. The staff did not want to leave them but were forced to leave.
No rain for weeks and weeks. Maybe the rain tonight will be enough to slow the flames.
Which photo is 15 years old?
The Spur inbound is closed to the public and there is possible fires moving to Wears Valley. 441 over Newfound Gap is closed.
River Road will close. If you live there just go back to Alcoa or Dandridge and get a hotel.
[[This does not look good. I wonder if we’re going to be facing “fire jihad” as the Israelis currently are facing?]]
They light fires wherever they go.
They have had their fire jihads all over Africa .
I Africa they are known to go into an area and burn what they can’t carry away , including all store food .
You can expect a lot of arson fires started here will be started by jihadis but don’t to hear it in the news .
I’m in Northern Alabama and we have been experiencing a terrible drought. Tonight we finally received our first measurable rain in almost 4 months. It is dangerously dry. Alabama has also been suffering wildfires.
Tomorrow night, thankfully, we are expected to receive up to 3 inches of rain. Unfortunately, they are predicting a chance of tornadoes also. At this point, We’ll take the tornado risk to get some wonderful rain:)
I hate to see this. Gatlinburg and the Smokies are so beautiful. This horrid drought has devastated much of the South. Hopefully, they will also receive a good rain.
Well, the tinder box has lit here. We have many great firefighters in the region all the way from HI.
The Smokies in this part are thick. The smoke would be overwhelming. The terrain is steep and the speed quite tremendous.
God Speed to the Firefighters trying to slow it down.
The one with the elk in the river at your #36 post. That photo is from a wildfire in Montana in the year 2000.
How could you confuse that with the current situation?
http://www.9-1-1magazine.com/Archives-0010-Bitteroot-Fire-Photograph
“This horrid drought has devastated much of the South.”
The river is so low near our house that I’m seeing sandbars exposed that have never in my time been seen before.
I copied it from a Twitter post titled “Photos: Tennessee”.
By the way, there are elk in Cades Cove.
No it is just so bone dry that a cigarette butt hitting the normally green grass will set it on fire. All around the Nashville area everyday the firemen are putting out grass fires etc. averaging 50 acres per fire if the wind gets blowing.
The cove is 30 miles away from the fires and a naturally protected area. Gatlinburg, not so much.
I wonder if the severe drought we have had in eastern states is a continuation of the weather pattern that brought heat and fire early this spring to the countryside around the tar sands mining in Canada where they had to evacuate a town of 80,000 and about 10 or 20% of the homes burned.
I watch some eagles on Dollywood land and it’s raining there right now. Pray that it continues so these fires will be put out soon!
Older folks here in East TN are saying that the rivers are as low as they have ever seen...the local ‘joke’ is that the air has been so smoky lately that residents would be able to smoke their turkeys this year by leaving them out on the porch.
Radar shows rain moving in right now.
However I can’t help but wonder if these fires don’t have the same cause as those that Israel is dealing with this past week.
Raining pretty hard over East Tennessee right now, and should continue thru Wednesday...hopefully; this will provide some relief.
Several years ago we had a drought here in Texas. We got zero rain for a whole year...NOT exaggerating. There were so many wildfires and fear of the next one to come. I saw one up close and it was moving so fast...it was very frightening. It went right past the airport and nearly made it into the city.
I hope and pray that those thee are out soon..before any more land is eaten up by them or people and animals hurt or killed!
Watching the Dollywood Eagle Cam. Just heard sirens in the distance. The grounds aren't far from the fires. But the rain is really coming down now, thank God!
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