Waters also said that two firefighters suffered minor injures and were treated at the scene. Bruce Miller with Tennessee Forestry also gave an update. She added that she was in touch with people at Dollywood, Partons theme park in Pigeon Forge, and that everything is okay there.. Flames destroyed nearly 2,500 homes and left an estimated $2 billion in damages. Alice Hagler was reported missing by her family and later confirmed dead. Two helicopters moved overhead to dumpwater near several burning homes on the hillsideafter high winds and dry conditions sparked a brush fire and promptedan evacuation order for thearea. As of 6 p.m., the fire had affected at least 20 structures, like buildings, and one civilian was injured. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, a fire began on the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Authorities did not release details about the other fatalities. Sevier County dispatch told WVLT News that there was a two-mile evacuation from Parkside Resort near Little Cove Road and Pine Mountain Road. Copyright 2022 WVLT. The fire is known as the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire according to the Emergency Management department. All rights reserved. Those in the Sevier County area can get the lasted information through the WVLT News app or from officials through Sevier County alerts, which come to cell phones automatically. Well thankfully a church has got us a hotel room located for the night, Chris Clemmons said. The vehicles were then lost to the fire, officials said. WVLT News also spoke with Brook Smith, a forester at the scene, who said as nightfall nears the situation may improve some. The fire also grew to around 3,700 acres, affecting over 100 structures and even five fire agency vehicles, Waters said. The Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive is available for individuals displaced by the fire. All rights reserved. He also confirmed that less than 10 people stayed the night Thursday at the Pigeon Forge Community Shelter. However, due to the extreme nature of the wind continued to be a problem for the area. Pigeon Forge, in eastern Tennessee, is best known for singer Dolly Partons theme park, Dollywood, which was not affected by the fire. At this time, Wears Valley Road is still closed. A Type 2 Incident Management Team, the Southern Area Gold Team, has been mobilized. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 06:23 PM EST. I'm just really hoping everybody came off the mountain.. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by confirming that there had been no fatalities as of Friday. Live: Officials give an update on Wears Valley wildfire. More evacuation orders followed, including one for the Black Bear Resort area and the great Waldens Creek and Wears Valley area. The area is home to rental cabins with some permanent residences. On Thursday, things expect to be different. Twin brothers Beau and Zackary MacLellan lost their home and their jobs to the fire. The Millstone Gap Fire grew to 650 acres as crews continue to fight both fires. The buckets suspend from the helicopter and contain valves on the bottom the crew can use to dispense water. Hikers are advised to avoid hiking during this time period across the park, particularly in areas with standing dead trees.". All rights reserved. Several apparatus and a dozer lost on the Wears Valley fire; dozer operator burned and flown out. According to the update, the fire has been 30% contained as responders drop water from helicopters. The website (mountaintough.org) manages information and donations. CNNs Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report. John Tegler, 71, and Marilyn Tegler, 70, were dual citizens from Woodstock, Ontario, but owned a vacation home on North Skyline Drive in Chalet Village. A wildfire near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee has spread to nearly 4,000 acres as of Thursday morning and is only5% contained, according toSevier County Mayor Larry Waters. National Guard crews from Chattanooga were called in, and three Chinook Courthouse in Greeneville that is expected to last ten days. We will provide donation information for both items and money later this afternoon. 2. At about 6 p.m. the department said it had burned approximately 250 acres. Two more squads of two helicopters were scheduled to leave the base at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., Haas said. Firefighters from across East Tennessee are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County as it continues to grow. While out in the field conducting fire assessments, Pucketthad bumped into a fire crew that was trying to locate the owner of an Americanflag and Air Force banner. Hotels are also allowing residents to stay for free, Flener said. Meanwhile, you could see the fire still glowing behind Pine Mountain in Wears Valley on Wednesday evening. View all posts by Bill Gabbert. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. The two wildfires were caused by high winds that downed power lines, according to the investigation completed last week by the Tennessee Department of Agricultures Agricultural Crime Unit. All rights reserved. Thursday morning, Red Cross officials were able to confirm the EMA decided to not classify the community center as a shelter because they were not sure if the fire would spread in that direction. A wildfire burning near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee, has grown to more than 3,700 acres and impacted more than 100 structures, County Mayor Larry Waters said at a news conference Thursday. The injured person was reportedly taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center via airlift. Over 200 people and 70 agencies have been involved in the firefighting efforts, according to Waters. All rights reserved. Flames erupted in a remote area with steep terrain that made access to the fire difficult for firefighters. But we will be back tomorrow and monitoring that closely, but well be back up here tomorrow at 10 oclock tomorrow but as long as this rain keeps falling we might be able to get a little sleep tonight.. What we do is we evaluate active fires, hotspots, Miller said. Highway 321, Wears Valley Road, was closed to traffic from Townsend to Pigeon Forge due to the fire. Duran currently lives in Coral Gables, Florida. During this time, Constance observed flames coming from a house across the street. It has been a brutal 24 hours in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Sevier County Emergency Management Agency said fire officials advised that they now have 45% of the fire contained. "It could be worse," Duran told Knox News of his predicament. Ripley Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg evacuated all of its workers, reportedly leaving behind 10,518 animals. Reed took the familys only car and left Constance and the two girls at home to drive to the Gatlinburg Welcome center to gather more information about what was occurring. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, Waters said, in addition to a civilian who was injured when the fire overcame him while he was working on a bulldozer. Officials said three people were found dead from fires in the Chalet Village area, and one person was discovered dead near a motel on Highway 321. And, its the days after that night that they said give them a new light in life. Sevier County officials give the latest information in the fight against the Hatcher Mountain Fire. We appreciate that and are thankful for the donations, he said. It has been a brutal 24 hours in Pigeon Forge, TN. Upon arrival to the area, they will receive their assignments to help fellow firefighters that have already been on scene for several hours, officials with the Dandridge Fire Department said. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. Remembering the Gatlinburg Wildfires five years later. This is our favorite place to come, love it down there, sure hope no one get hurt or worse. Discovery Company. When asked about what the fight has been like on the scene, Mayor Waters said he appreciated the professionalism and organization of responders from the beginning, 11 a.m. Wednesday. Sevier County dispatch told WVLT News that there was a two-mile evacuation from Parkside Resort near Little Cove Road and Pine Mountain Road. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by thanking the first responders that flocked to the area to help fight the fires that began Wednesday morning. The buckets allow helicopters to transport hundreds of gallons of water from local sources to the site of the fire where needed. Massive mutual aid response via TN Mutual Aid Systen. "At this time, the high winds are anticipated to affect primarily the Tennessee side of the park," the park wrote on its Facebook page. A no-fly restriction remains for the public for Wears Valley and Chilhowee Mountain through April 7, according to a release. Families that were forced from their homes by the deadly 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires find refuge at a shelter. It was surreal, Goodhue told the KnoxvilleNews Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. "Fire at the Red Roof Mall in Pigeon Forge. " The high wind gusts up to 87 mph, in addition to creating a firestorm, All Rights Reserved. The My People Fund gave families thousands of dollars and a chance for people to rebuild. The Sevierville Convention Center, at 202 Gists Creek Road in Sevierville, is open as an evacuation shelter for persons displaced by the fire. All parties agreed that Phase two would not start until Phase one was finished, scheduling the Phase two trial 200 days after the court rules on Phase one. The fire in Indigo is looking very good.. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Flying over Wears Valley pic.twitter.com/H7KQbUep14, Pete Michaels Traffic (@MetroSkyWatch) March 31, 2022. Multiple communities under evacuation orders as wildfires grow and new ones spark overnight. Officials said that airdrops will continue Friday morning. Our response was challenged due to loss of internet and cell service. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. Miller confirmed that his crews were in the mop up phase, primarily checking hotspots that could restart parts of the fire. At 9 a.m. Thursday the wind at Cove Mountain was 21 mph from the south-southwest with 81 percent RH. Residents can go to the Gatlinburg Convention Center or Pigeon Forge Community Center. Wears Valley Road is still closed from Waldens Creek to Valley View. Five firefighting vehicles have been damaged. ", Things can be replaced, people cant, he said. Officials updated yesterdays estimate of 2,675 acres burned to 2,498 acres. The heavy rains that moved through on that Monday evening helped extinguish the flames. Officials added more addresses to the mandatory evacuation order for the Hatcher Mountain Fire. Jon Summers, 61, and Janet Summers, 61, were from Memphis, Tennessee. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. Today, KFD continues to support the Wildland fire operations in Sevier county in various capacities. https://bit.ly/3tV1vVs. The Kings Academy is open as a shelter for those evacuating due to local fires. Greer said Park Fire Management Officer Greg Salansky did not warn Gatlinburg officials of the threat of the fire until Nov. 28, five days after the fire had started. Mayor Waters also gave an update on road closures, saying officials would only reopen roads if they were safe. At least 35 buildings were burned Wednesday, and one person was airlifted to UT Medical Center, said Sevier County spokesman Perrin Anderson. The crew landed the helicopter in a soccer field near Line Springs Road, officials said. Discovery Company. He also said that teams would begin damage assessment Friday, estimating that they would have more information on damages Friday afternoon. As Goodhue watched the flames from the nearby Dollar General, he talked to a man who was crying as he watched his home of 34 years burn. The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. Officials estimated that about 11,000 homes were evacuated over the course of the day. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Dozens of people gathered Wednesday afternoon ona nearby highway, anxiously assessing the status of a fire that erupted in the Wears Valley community. Hudson said asschools closed due to the evacuations, children were bused to the evacuation center so parents could pick them up. Perrin Anderson with Sevier County announced a mandatory evacuation for the Smoky Ridge Way area off of Wears Valley Road due to increased fire conditions Thursday afternoon. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene; one man was injured Wednesday and flown out by LifeStar. If you are unsure if you are in this area, you should evacuate. Sevier County EMA officials also released a phone number for people to call with questions or information about areas affected by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire Thursday afternoon. Live Update (4:16 p.m.): WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson said the number of The960-acre Thomas Divide Complex Fire, which broke out Saturday in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, was reported to be 60 percent contained as of Tuesday. While the fire was put out, several people are now without "My heart goes out to those (residents) who were displaced.". He clarified that officials tried to reopen Wears Valley Road Thursday, but had to close it again due to hotspots. The wind was expected to make travel hazardous due to trees being blown down. Because of this, the addition of overnight rain was a necessity on Wednesday evening. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - An evacuation was ordered for residents in Pigeon Forge Thursday following a fast-moving brush fire that officials are calling the Pine Mountain Fire and has since been lifted. Nighttime, we can usually get a good handle on containing the fire, putting it in a place to where we can bump crews out for the evening so they can get sleep, Smith said. The raw audio details harrowing escapes and the desperate pleas for help made by wildfire survivors when the flames approached homes and businesses. On the fourth day, winds picked up and the fire spread, but the Gatlinburg fire chief said projections showed no immediate threat to Gatlinburg. According to Sevier County Emergency Management, after visiting the website with the above evacuation map, users cantype their address into the window to see if they are within the evacuation area. #tnwx #wildfire Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, Waters said. Crews are continuing to make areas affected by the fire safe enough that people can return to their homes, he said. SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. The Pigeon Forge Fire Department fought an apartment complex fire that affected 150 rooms Tuesday night, according to the department. Herman Duran is one of the countless homeowners and residents impacted bythe two Smoky Mountainregion wildfires that broke out in late March. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. I feel bad for them people.. The Sevier County Emergency Management said at about 3:10 p.m. Thursday that the evacuation area would be reduced shortly. We hope that everyone has a good spring break, officials said. At 5:15 p.m. Roads continue to remain closed and he suggested using Little Cove Road to access Wears Valley Road. Helicopters made bucket drops to slow the spread of the fire. As of Sunday afternoon, the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 98% contained and all affected areas are now open. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Phase two is focused on causation and damages and will only be applied to a bellwether plaintiff which is someone who will be selected to represent the whole group. Please refrain from bringing items to any locations at this time. Waters also gave an update on the Millstone Gap Fire, another fire in the Sevier County area. Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, Morgan Wallen Celebrates the Release of One Thing at a Time with a Concert at His High School, Brush Fire in Pigeon Forge Forces Evacuations. Officials have not determined a cause, and evacuations are still in place. around 30 mph. pic.twitter.com/yysCq3tgIn He told her to contact 911. Resident Robert Goodhue was turned around mid-afternoon by a state trooperas he was driving towards his home. They asked people to call 911 only for emergencies. Crews with the Pigeon Forge Fire Department were prepared to stay out all night to make sure the fire was contained with about 50 firefighters working the fire. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer stated the National Park Service failed to notify park neighbors, visitors, and local residents of all planned and unplanned fire management activities that had the potential to impact them. The fire spread rapidly and widely because of wind gusts that blew up to 87 mph on Monday night, according to Miller. I know there are some folks who have been affected, and I hope that you will join me in saying a prayer for them, Parton said. The recordings also detail the heroic efforts of crews battling the blaze behind the scenes. In a 10 a.m. briefing on Thursday officials said the wildfire southwest of Those interested in helping can go to this website to arrange donations. The chopper dropping water had to be grounded. Last night we conducted fire patrol@and extinguished hot spots. Follow here for live updates on what officials are calling the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. You can type an address at the top-right on the page to see if it is affected. Firefighting continues, the park reported, adding conditions throughout the park continue to be dry with an enhanced risk for wildfires. We were so caught off guard. We just want everybody to stay vigilant. Firefighters escape Sevier Co. flames propelled by high winds, Firefighters save cabins in Sevier County as flames creep close.