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.
Sure thing, Nellie Mae. Stay safe and let us know how things turn out.
These fires have been burning and spreading for weeks....
....I’m hearing arson.....even though yes, the land is dry and they’ve had a drought for months
Gatlinburg and surrounding area is the newest......
....Asheville and surrounding areas of Western North Carolina have been getting their share too......for weeks
I know this because.....we evacuated November 11 from a small town in WNC......acrid smoke had been hanging around for days, but that morning at 3AM it was thick in our home and we hurriedly packed and left.
Fires were burning all around WNC and North Georgia......now it’s East Tennessee
This is some of the sweetest countryside and people you could meet or be in......
It’s all so sad..........just doesn’t happen .....and yes, I think arson
You did just fine!....Thanks
Thanks for the link to the Dollywood Eagle Cam. It’s good to see & hear the sound of rain there. I normally wouldn’t sat]y this but I HOPE IT POURS!
I pray it’s saved, too.
Just heartrending. Wildfires in tinder dry conditions are a holocaust of destruction to man and beast alike. It’s hard to believe the Eastern Seaboard is so dry. Has there been a drought like this one in recorded history?
There were people trapped in the hotel as of this report:
http://wate.com/2016/11/28/video-chef-at-gatlinburg-park-vista-hotel-live-on-facebook-from-fire/
The Smokies are very heavily wooded, normally get quite a bit of rain. It hasn't come since summer.
That was EXACTLY what I was thinking.
They'd be hard pressed to start fire jihad here in Uppstate NY in the dead of winter.
There's nothing to burn but snow.
Maybe this should be added to the prayer lists for the protection of our nation. I am suspicious of this as well.
The enemy is endlessly creative in ways to attack and we can’t always pray against things we don’t have any idea are going to happen, except for a general protection against attack.
East TN, rural western NC, north GA and the far Upstate of SC are really idyllic, not too expensive if you stay away from the resort areas, with good, conservative people being the vast majority. Largely mountainous, some of the highest in the east. Beautiful country. If I were looking for a place to ride out the end of the world as we know it and had to stick to the east coast, that’s exactly where I’d go.
We’re about 10 miles north of Huntsville and I think we got maybe 1/4” so not much. Maybe more later this week.
It’s been very dry here the past few months; we’ve been under a burn ban and have had brush and wildfires all over East and Middle Tennessee for weeks.
My heart is breaking for the people there. Hope ‘Mr. Larry’ and his sweet dogs are OK.
Christmas is a boom time for the area. This will be a huge impact. Prayers up. There have already been casualties from what I gather.
I don’t doubt that at all. I’ve never seen it this bad. It’s like the Dust Bowl all over again.
Great news. Praying!!
There’s a FReeper from California who relocated recently to east TN, he’s been so very happy, just thrilled with his new home. I hope he’s OK. Can’t recall his full screen name. Cotton something? Who recognizes this SN, can you sent a FReepmail to check on them?
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