what caused the fire in pigeon forge?

The vehicles were then lost to the fire, officials said. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. If it keeps going, we already know well be here as long as we need, Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said. Crews with the Dandridge Fire Department along with other Jefferson County fire departments were headed to the fire to assist the Sevier Co. Wildland Task Force. Officials said they would be releasing a revised fire evacuation area. What you need to know as crews continue to fight a wildfire in Sevier Co. More: https://bit.ly/3IQcELz. The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. The wind was expected to make travel hazardous due to trees being blown down. Tennessee Forestry representative Bruce Miller gave a fire update, saying the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 95% contained. Please refrain from bringing items to any locations at this time. A trailer full of cots sat unopened at the community center, untouched and not laid out for people to sleep on until late Wednesday night. Country superstar and East Tennessee native Dolly Parton created the My People Fund to help victims of the wildfires. Emma Frederick and her family, who were staying at an Airbnb rental in Sevier County for the week, received an alert about the evacuations Wednesday afternoon when they were out, and were unable to retrieve their belongings from the cabin. As of Sunday afternoon, the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 98% contained and all affected areas are now open. We are confident we have this fire in good check, he said. 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. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. 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 Millstone Gap Fire, on the other hand, is in a more rural area than the Hatchers Mountain Fire, Miller said. Miller confirmed that his crews were in the mop up phase, primarily checking hotspots that could restart parts of the fire. Waters also gave an update on the Millstone Gap Fire, another fire in the Sevier County area. 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. 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. The injured person was reportedly taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center via airlift. The blaze prompted evacuations and closings. TEMA did not send out a mass evacuation alert because it said it did not have a preset message to accurately describe the situation. The blaze is being pushed by strong winds. Folks on Twitter could not believe the visuals of what was going on in Pigeon Forge yesterday. Wednesday morning Sevier Countys residents received a message telling them to report to the Pigeon Forge Community Center after evacuating their homes, but only late that night did EMA officials classify it as a shelter. Instead, officials referred to the center as an evacuation center.. Last night we conducted fire patrol@and extinguished hot spots. Bruce Miller with Tennessee Forestry also gave an update. The American Red Cross is asking people who are planning to come to an evacuating center to bring bedding (such as pillows) and prescribed medications with them to help make their stay more comfortable, the agency said in a tweet. A no-fly restriction remains for the public for Wears Valley and Chilhowee Mountain through April 7, according to a release. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. The Sevier County Emergency Management said at about 3:10 p.m. Thursday that the evacuation area would be reduced shortly. It could be 1 to 3 oclock right, could be all night. We will provide donation information for both items and money later this afternoon. Officials have not determined a cause, and evacuations are still in place. Lessons learned from 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire likely saved lives, Smokies fire comes at 'one of the worst times' for business owners, In light of Smokies fire in Wears Valley, track wildfires in Tennessee, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. It was a bad combination for the area on Wednesday. Eleven plaintiffs are suing the National Park Service, and the cases are broken down into two phases. All in all, Mayor Waters said, 70 local and federal agencies consisting of around 200 people responded to the fire. He also said he believed that his department would be able to turn over control of the Hatcher Mountain fire to local responders in the next 24-48 hours. But until then, on Wednesday night the relative humidity will be in the 30s and 40s with very strong winds out of the southwest at 15 to 18 mph with gusts of 40 to 60 mph. Authorities did not release details about the other fatalities. Mayor Waters also gave an update on road closures, saying officials would only reopen roads if they were safe. Deputies with the Sevier County Sheriffs Office originally told WVLT News that the Pine Mountain Fire started from a structure fire that started earlier in the day that was spread by the wind. Flying over Wears Valley pic.twitter.com/H7KQbUep14, Pete Michaels Traffic (@MetroSkyWatch) March 31, 2022. )Please call 911 for EMERGENCIES ONLY. The Countys Emergency Management department said it is in the Hatcher Mountain Road and Indigo Lane area of the Wears Valley Community. Fire personnel from all over the state have poured in to assist, Waters said, thanking fire and forestry crews who have been working to extinguish the blaze. Mayor Waters also thanked the community for the outpouring of support, saying people and residents had donated many items including food, water and new clothes. About half an inch of rainfall is expected early Thursday morning. The Park closed some roads on Wednesday due to the prediction, they said, for sustained winds between 40 to 50 mph with gusts up to 90 mph. No number of firefighters could have stopped the fire in such wind conditions, Great Smoky Mountain National Park Deputy Superintendent Clay Jordan told WVLT News in 2016. I could see the smoke coming off of Waldens Creek back there, and I was like, That's coming from where I live.. All rights reserved. He said that after a night of fighting, responders had gotten the fire 5% contained. https://bit.ly/3u1KXel. 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. Michael McGrath who took this video says several more homes on the hillside have now burned. #tnwx #wildfire. It was reported that 35 homes had been burned from the brush fires. Local, state, and federal firefighting assets and personnel deployed to a Sevier County wildfire thats consumed more than 1,000 acres and resulted in the evacuation of more than 500 people. An evacuation was ordered for downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and She told the dispatcher, The fire is next door to my house My husband is not home. The National Weather Services spot weather forecast for the incident predicts that a line of showers will move into the fire area bringing about half an inch of precipitation between 3 and 6 a.m. Dozens of Sevier County residents faced uncertainty Wednesday night as a raging wildfire stormed through the area. Officials with the Pigeon Forge Police Department said no traffic will be able to travel into Wears Valley from Pigeon Forge until further notice. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. I feel bad for them people.. Posted: Mar 2, 2023 / 06:41 AM EST. "I'm very grateful to them for honoring the flag and honoring me as well.". In addition to local fire departments, resources have responded from 70 agencies in Middle and Upper East Tennessee as well as the Tennessee National Guard and the U.S. Forest Service. Along with those updates should come a more accurate number of structures affected. It makes you proud to be a part of this community, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Despite these challenges, we sent police fire and mass transit to evacuate citizens and visitors, said Miller. Wears Valley, Tennessee this afternoon. He told her to contact 911. WebCom localizao central em Pigeon Forge, Hilton Garden Inn Pigeon Forge est a apenas 4 minutos de caminhada de Pigeon Forge Snow e a 6 minutos a p de Christmas Place. Deputies with the Sevier County Sheriffs Office originally Wears Valley Road and Waldens Creek Road reopened according to officials with the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency. Wind-fueled wildfires swept across Sevier County in 2016 claiming lives, homes and livelihoods forever changing the landscape of Gatlinburg and the Smokies. Sevier County officials gave a major update just before 5 p.m. Thursday. We have personnel going door to door, he said. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire, according to officials with the Sevier County Dispatch. Tony Ogle, a spokesperson for Sevier County Schools, said that Wearwood Elementary School evacuated its students to the Pigeon Forge Community Center due to the wildfires. HWY 321 from Waldens Creek to Valley View, Tennessee National Guard members were sent to help with the Sevier County fire, A helicopter dropping water on the wildfire in Sevier County, TDOT officials drive as the Sevier County wildfire nears US 321 Wednesday night. For those evacuated, a shelter was established at the Pigeon Forge Community Center Center, located at 170 Community Center Drive. The family has been staying in a hotel and theyve been in touch with the Airbnb host, who is unaware about the status of the cabin, Frederick told CNN. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - More than 100 people were displaced after an apartment fire in Pigeon Forge, according to Sevier County dispatch. We hope that everyone has a good spring break, officials said. Duran currently lives in Coral Gables, Florida. They said they are working on creating a list of donation drop-off points, but until those are released asked people to not donate. The cop was like, You need to leave, like now, Zackary MacLellan reflected. The Sevier County Emergency Management Agency said fire officials advised that they now have 45% of the fire contained. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, Waters said. There will be an update on the noon news here shortly. Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters spoke to WVLT News about the situation Wednesday afternoon, saying officials are doing their best to stay ahead of fires, monitor conditions and issue evacuations when needed. The Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire that startedMarch 30 burned nearly 2,500 acres, damaging 219 structures and destroying 130 of those. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. Officials reported that evacuation alerts went out on cell phones, but some residents said they never received the alerts. If they catch fire,Tennessee Division of Forestry spokesperson Brook Smith said, the rain can't do much to stop it. While the crew had been unable to save that particularcabin, they said,they took down the flag when they retreated. Helicopters made bucket drops to slow the spread of the fire. Seymour Heights Christian Church, (122 Boyd's Creek Highway) and the Pigeon Forge Community Center (170 Community Center Drive) are available as shelters for persons displaced by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. Kyle Grainger WVLT sent these photos in from the Hatcher Mountain fire as it is now being called. Rainfalltotals did little to compete with gusty winds overnight, lowering hopes of containing thefire that eruptedin the popular mountain retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains. However, another user tweeted a photo from Gatlinburg. Web-Must reside in State of Tennessee no further than 30 road miles from the Pigeon Forge Fire Station #1 or Fire Station #2. Pigeon Forge Community Center located at 170 Community Center Drive is available as an evacuation center for persons displaced by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. 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. More than 11,000 acres were burned inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park; more than 17,000 acres were burned throughout the path of the fire. 2023 Cable News Network. The delay caused stress for people already in a dire situation who were not able to plan where they would spend the night. The map below shows the evacuation area. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. Officials give latest update on Hatcher Mountain Wildfire. As of 4:30 p.m., forestry officials also reported one resident was injured and was airlifted out of the area to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. I stand behind the people who made decisions. Sevier County Fairgrounds Donations Schedule by WVLT News on Scribd. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ", Things can be replaced, people cant, he said. Waters did have some good news, saying he thinks that the worst of the danger is over. Twin brothers Beau and Zackary MacLellan lost their home and their jobs to the fire. Power outages reported across the region following severe storms, Kentucky State Police investigating Floyd County death, Restrictions on vehicles restoring power and clearing debris temporarily lifted, Governor Andy Beshear updates Kentuckians following severe weather, Sevier County Fairgrounds Donations Schedule, Hatcher Mountain / Indigo Wildfire Update, fire crews were preparing for the threat of wildfires due to a Red Flag Warning, Sevier County Emergency Management Agency. WebCom localizao central em Pigeon Forge, Hilton Garden Inn Pigeon Forge est a apenas 4 minutos de caminhada de Pigeon Forge Snow e a 6 minutos a p de Christmas Place. Five fire rescue vehicles, including four county vehicles and one state vehicle, were damaged as a result of the fire, Waters said. 2. WVLT News spoke with Sevier Co. officials, who confirmed the fire was still 45% contained as of 4:08 p.m. Friday. Its UTV was been requested, officials posted. The smoke could be seen for miles, as a plume was captured on the National Weather Service radar stretching from Pigeon Forge to Dandridge. That evening, wind gusts of up to 87 mph sent embers flying into Gatlinburg, wreaking havoc on the city and surrounding communities. As spring break runs through next week, this means that students should return to schools on Monday, April 11. A Type 2 Incident Management Team, the Southern Area Gold Team, has been mobilized. Duran said the actions of a fire crew who took the time to rescue his American flag and Air Force banner were "a light at the end of the tunnel" for him as he assessedthe damageto his retreat in Shagbark Resort. Sevier County Fire Chief David Puckett said he was grateful for every responders response and hard work. Copyright 2022 WVLT. As of 8:30 p.m., the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire was approximately 1,000 acres in size and had affected 35 structures. The Kings Academy is open as a shelter for those evacuating due to local fires. But he had no idea his flag and banner had been rescued until he made the trek to Pigeon Forge to check on what was left of his property. Copyright 2021 WVLT. Goodhue said the state trooper told him the neighborhood was being evacuated. The fire is known as the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire according to the Emergency Management department. Did you encounter any technical issues? That meant there wasnt any to spare for extra lodging. It looks like somebody just went through there and just dropped a bomb on the place, Shannon McCostlin told WATE. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. LG&E gives power outage update for Fridays severe weather, WAVE Weather Now Syncbak Channel Embed for PBE Page, Man killed in Blankenbaker Lane crash identified by officials, Governor Beshear provides updates after storms and damaging winds, Louisville mayor declares state of emergency due to severe weather. Flames destroyed nearly 2,500 homes and left an estimated $2 billion in damages. In response, weather experts said that combined with the dry vegetation and the strong winds, they issued a red flag warning. WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson said the number of affected structures was higher because of duplicate counts. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by confirming that there had been no fatalities as of Friday.