Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge Fires Continue to Burn; at Least 400 Structures Damaged or Destroyed

The Tennessee resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge were reeling Tuesday morning after several wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains quickly advanced on the area, prompting mass evacuations and burning dozens of homes and businesses.
According to officials during a press conference Tuesday, more than 400 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in Sevier County and at least 14,000 were evacuated from Gatlinburg alone overnight.
Gatlinburg Fire Chief Craig Miller, who noted that "the worst is over," said more than 200 firefighters are "still actively fighting fire" and noted that it had been a "difficult 24 hours." An additional 212 firefighters have been requested to help with the effort Tuesday, he added.
"This is a fire for the history books," said Miller. "It's like nothing many of us have ever seen."
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No fatalities have been reported, but 12 people are being treated for injuries, Miller said.
Gatlinburg mayor Mike Werner, who said he likely lost his own home in the fire, offered encouragement to the community, saying Gatlinburg was "strong and very resilient."
"We will rebuild," said Werner. "It's going to be okay."
As of 11 a.m., fires have claimed more than 150 structures in the unincorporated part of the county and more than 200 in the cities, according to WBIR. At least 70 homes have been destroyed.
Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear said in a weather.com Facebook live interview that nine structures were destroyed in the town.
"We have been blessed to not have had more," said Wear.
"Fire officials report that fallen trees have sparked multiple fires from fallen power lines," Cindy Ogle, Gatlinburg city manager, told WATE. "Fire agencies from multiple agencies are responding to the area fires and I can’t express enough the city’s gratitude for the assistant with the National Park."
Gatlinburg was placed under a Level 3 state of emergency and residents were asked to stay off their cell phones unless it was for an emergency in order to keep the lines clear, according to an announcement from TEMA.
"If you're a person of prayer, we could use your prayers," Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said during a Monday morning press briefing, as reported by CNN.com.

Downtown Gatlinburg is seen under a heavy blanket of smoke on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016.
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Guests at the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge were evacuated from nearby cabins as the fire advanced towards Parton's property, WATE said in a separate report, and crews were working to protect the park from the flames. As of late Monday night, no structures at Dollywood had been destroyed, according to a statement from the park.
The 500-acre fire quickly grew Monday fueled by 30 to 40 mph winds and is affecting the Chimney Tops and Bullhead Ridge area. Authorities say the wind has caused the fire to jump to different locations along the ridges.
The Gatlinburg Fire Department reported a wind gust to 63 mph early Monday evening, according to weather.com meteorologist Jon Erdman.
It remains unclear how much impact the rain had on the wildfires, but weather.com meteorologist Kait Parker notes that rain does not necessarily put out a wildfire.
"It has slowed it due to the wetting of the top layer and higher relative humidity but the roots and underbrush will still be burning," said Parker.
Rainfall data from Weather Underground personal weather stations indicate most areas around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge picked up 0.25 to 0.5 inches of rain Monday night into early Tuesday, Erdman noted.

Park officials told the Daily Times that the fire, which began Nov. 23, is likely man-made.
No deaths have been reported in the inferno. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, both popular vacation destinations, are home to a combined 10,000 permanent resident.


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