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.