There are no reports of fatalities or missing people as a result of the blaze, All rights reserved. WEARS VALLEY, Tenn. ( WATE) A wildfire near Pigeon Forge has Some are calling it the Indigo Lane Fire. Officials had warned early Wednesday that warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds increased the risk of fire danger. At least 35 buildings were burned Wednesday, and one person was airlifted to UT Medical Center, said Sevier County spokesman Perrin Anderson. Flying over Wears Valley pic.twitter.com/H7KQbUep14, Pete Michaels Traffic (@MetroSkyWatch) March 31, 2022. pic.twitter.com/mfFfiReWBB, Ben Cathey (@bencatheywvlt) March 31, 2022. pic.twitter.com/E7i2IPTBFB. I'm just really hoping everybody came off the mountain.. Duran knew his vacation cabin was destroyed, putting his plans to retire there in 18 months on hold. All rights reserved. Three more people were found dead on Campbell Lead Road. View all posts by Bill Gabbert. Forestry officials said they expect firefighters to be able to increase containment since weather forecasts are not calling for the high wind conditions the area saw Wednesday. The cop was like, You need to leave, like now, Zackary MacLellan reflected. Kaitlin Wright tweeted, Devastating video of the wildfire ongoing near the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. The injured person was reportedly taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center via airlift. According to the update, the fire has been 30% contained as responders drop water from helicopters. I know folks want to go home, he said We are going to work as fast and diligently as we can so folks can go home and check on property., In a message to homeowners, Waters said we are working as hard as we can. 2. The combination of the precipitation and the winds dying down is a big step in the right direction. Thursday afternoon the humidity will be in the 50s with 10 to 14 mph southwest winds gusting to 29 mph. Once buses arrive, students will be dismissed accordingly. We have personnel going door to door, he said. 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 map below shows the evacuation area. Parkside Resort is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Credit: Parkside Resort/Facebook. 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. Follow here for live updates on what officials are calling the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. WVLT News spoke to Red Cross officials Wednesday night to try and get answers, but they said the decision was in the hands of Sevier County EMA. Live: Officials give an update on Wears Valley wildfire. 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. They said they are working on creating a list of donation drop-off points, but until those are released asked people to not donate. Responders have confirmed to WVLT News that the wildfire in Sevier County has grown to 1,000 acres and affected 35 structures. Red Cross officials confirmed the Pigeon Forge Community Center shelter will close at 2 p.m. Sunday. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - More than 100 people were displaced after an apartment fire in Pigeon Forge, according to Sevier County dispatch. The night of Nov. 28, 2016, they werent aware of the chaos surrounding them until they received a knock on the door. BREAKING: A mandatory evacuation was issued for the Smoky Ridge Way area off of Wears Valley Road due to increased fire conditions. Duran currently lives in Coral Gables, Florida. 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. Have a phone thats charged and on and listen to the media.. They said people in the Hatcher Mountain, Shagbark Resort and Little Valley Mountain Resort should evacuate immediately. The spot weather forecast from the National Weather Service Thursday morning predicts mostly sunny skies with a slight chance of scattered sprinkles late in the morning, minimum RH of 45 percent, and southwest winds 9 to 14 mph with gusts to WebArmy helicopters were called in to drop water on the flames as a state of emergency was declared in the city of Pigeon Forge. Copyright 2022 WVLT. Documents filed in the case obtained by WVLT News show Reed filed a claim in 2017. Officials said they would be releasing a revised fire evacuation area. #tnwx #wildfire They made solid decisions and saved thousands of lives, GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash told WVLT News in 2016. The area was under a high-wind warning overnight and while winds slowed during the day Thursday, the National Weather Service said wind gusts up to 30 mph were expected through the evening, with more powerful gusts possible in some locations. 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.. 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. Seymour Heights Christian Church, located at 122 Boyds Creek Highway, is opening its doors to anyone displaced by the fire. Forestry officials announced early Thursday morning that responders would be holding a press conference around 10 a.m. That event will be streamed live here and on the WVLT Facebook page. It looks like somebody just went through there and just dropped a bomb on the place, Shannon McCostlin told WATE. She reached out to her husband to ask what she should do. However, another user tweeted a photo from Gatlinburg. Several apparatus and a dozer lost on the Wears Valley fire; dozer operator burned and flown out. Officials originally predicted the affected acreage was 3,700 but they updated it to 2,675 burned acres, according to Assistant Sevier County Mayor for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson. "It meant a lot to me," he said. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. A Kroger grocery store in Pigeon Forge caught fire early Saturday morning. Waters also gave an update on the Millstone Gap Fire, another fire in the Sevier County area. WVLT News spoke with Sevier Co. officials, who confirmed the fire was still 45% contained as of 4:08 p.m. Friday. Its been real dangerous.. All Rights Reserved. The My People Fund gave families thousands of dollars and a chance for people to rebuild. 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. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. 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. Responders also spoke on coordination during the fight, saying they paired out-of-town responders with local ones that could provide directions when needed. At 5:15 p.m. The blaze prompted evacuations and closings. -Certification as a TN Fire Inspector I or ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment. We want to especially thank our partner Knoxville Area Transit for providing us a ride! Officials said they plan on beginning assessments for damaged areas following the fire, and asked that people do not call 911 for damage reports. Waters said that responders began the fight with the fire as soon as it began, around 11 a.m. Wednesday. Tennessee National Guard officials told WVLT News that they have provided six UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to support responders in Sevier County Thursday morning. 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. It was 30% contained as of Thursday afternoon, officials said. 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. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. At the time, the Gatlinburg police chief told WVLT News that cell phone towers were down in the area. Knox County Rescue crews were headed to Sevier County Saturday morning to assist in several capacities, including working in the EOC & an Incident Command Sub-Section, performing field damage assessment and search. 2023 Cable News Network. Officials updated yesterdays estimate of 2,675 acres burned to 2,498 acres. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by confirming that there had been no fatalities or missing persons overnight. A fire destroyed a business and damaged others nearby Monday By and large nighttime fires calm down and dont move much, but tonight we are going to have winds that will be a concern.. 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. The fire spread rapidly and widely because of wind gusts that blew up to 87 mph on Monday night, according to Miller. As of Sunday afternoon, the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 98% contained and all affected areas are now open. WVLT News also spoke with Brook Smith, a forester at the scene, who said as nightfall nears the situation may improve some. https://bit.ly/3u1KXel. Web-Must reside in State of Tennessee no further than 30 road miles from the Pigeon Forge Fire Station #1 or Fire Station #2. This means the fire is more unaccusable. 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. The second video shows fire crews working to save cabins in Sevier County as flames creep closer. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Heavy rains doused most of a wildfire that had damaged more than 35 buildings near the Tennessee resort town of Pigeon Forge, allowing authorities Monday to take firefighters off the line. The Hatcher Mountain Road Fire grew over the course of Thursday, but authorities also announced an increase in the containment of the fire. SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - Responders from several East Tennessee agencies are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County. pic.twitter.com/VU3I6B4zLs. Updated You can see the glow from the Wears Valley fire behind Pine Mountain. A small crew remained in the area to monitor hot spots, the station said. A helicopter collects water from pond to drop on a wildfire in Wears Valley on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The preliminary damages figure for the county was based on property assessments,Perrin Anderson,Sevier County assistant mayor for governmental affairs, told Knox News in an email Thursday. appreciated. https://bit.ly/3NyWklV. An evacuation was ordered for downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Ripley Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg evacuated all of its workers, reportedly leaving behind 10,518 animals. Copyright 2022 WVLT. Pigeon Forge, in eastern Tennessee, is best known for singer Dolly Partons theme park, Dollywood, which was not affected by the fire. Massive mutual aid response via TN Mutual Aid Systen. It is possible that the strong winds on Wednesday affected the incident. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. Sevier County Fairgrounds Donations Schedule by WVLT News on Scribd. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - An evacuation was ordered for 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. We are predominately making efforts on the western line of the [Hatcher Mountain] fire, he said. 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. Last night we conducted fire patrol@and extinguished hot spots. Volunteers from around the world calmed the fears of victims as they donated millions of dollars to the relief fund. She told the dispatcher, The fire is next door to my house My husband is not home. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. The Tennessee Military Department told WVLT News that the national guard was on standby to fly two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters over the fire if needed. Mayor Waters also gave an update on road closures, saying officials would only reopen roads if they were safe. Click here. Deputies with the Sevier County Sheriffs Office originally Miller confirmed that his crews were in the mop up phase, primarily checking hotspots that could restart parts of the fire. While heading to his cabin, Duranstopped along the way to talk to Sevier County Fire Administrator David Puckett. 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. It brought a tear to my eye to see everyone coming together as one, and it reassured me that everything was really going to be okay, Beau MacLellan said. The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. Este hotel fica a 8,7 km de Dollywood e a 1 km de Island at Pigeon Forge.Sinta-se em casa em um de nossos 112 quartos com geladeiras e micro-ondas. Officials reported that evacuation alerts went out on cell phones, but some residents said they never received the alerts. WebI would describe this as flooding in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Tennessee, but certainly heavy rain rising the water levels throughout. Responders said that one crew of firefighters had to abandon their vehicles and move back into already-burned areas as the fire approached Wednesday night. Im especially proud of the brave men and women who are working to contain the fire, the singer wrote. WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the Hatcher Mountain Wildfire was 100% contained. There was no update on his condition this morning. A brushfire near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, forced evacuations on Wednesday, March 30. A temporary shelter is set up at the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive. As spring break runs through next week, this means that students should return to schools on Monday, April 11. Another fire was reported in Anderson County at 3:35 p.m., with mutual aid requested for a brush fire. The buckets allow helicopters to transport hundreds of gallons of water from local sources to the site of the fire where needed. Courthouse in Greeneville that is expected to last ten days. Appears the dozer operator info may be false; Fire now at 3000 acres. In a 10 a.m. briefing on Thursday officials said the wildfire southwest of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which is being referred to as the Indigo Lane Fire and Hatcher Mountain Fire, has burned 3,700 acres and affected 100 structures. Five fire apparatus vehicles were damaged. While Wears Valley Road has reopened, several roads remain closed due to hotspots and for first responders to continue work. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. They will reopen once it is safe to do so. TEMA did not send out a mass evacuation alert because it said it did not have a preset message to accurately describe the situation. Part of it is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I could see the smoke coming off of Waldens Creek back there, and I was like, That's coming from where I live.. Waters also said that two firefighters suffered minor injures and were treated at the scene. Residents can evacuate to the Pigeon Forge Community Center if needed. An internal investigation by then U.S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke found that the National Park Service was unprepared but not negligent. Everybody took it very seriously because of what happened, he said. Jon Summers, 61, and Janet Summers, 61, were from Memphis, Tennessee. According to Knox News , the fire had zero-percent containment going into the late-night hours. About 20 fire departments had been fighting the fire, which had burned 260 acres, authorities said. It was a bad combination for the area on Wednesday. The chopper dropping water had to be grounded. around 30 mph. The wildfires touched over 1,000 acres. Sevier County officials gave a major update just before 5 p.m. Thursday. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. Sevier County officials began issuing mandatory evacuations around 4:30 p.m. The delay caused stress for people already in a dire situation who were not able to plan where they would spend the night. You can type an address at the top-right on the page to see if it is affected. Copyright 2022 WVLT. 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. While the fire was put out, several people are now without Hikers are advised to avoid hiking during this time period across the park, particularly in areas with standing dead trees.". Officials with the City of Gatlinburg and Sevier County released heartbreaking 911 calls made prior to and during the deadly wildfires. Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. Wears Valley Road and Waldens Creek Road reopened according to officials with the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency. Waters did not have an update on the civilians condition. A fire at Pigeon Forge has been contained. Elaine Brown, 81, died after she sustained a medical event that caused a multi-vehicle accident on Wears Valley Road while fleeing the fire. About half an inch of rainfall is expected early Thursday morning. Updated: Jan 31, 2023 / 06:23 PM EST. Crews closed the road, saying they were focusing on stopping the fire from crossing it and spreading into more populated areas. WVLT News Sam Luther spoke to a sheltering vacationer, who said if it werent for the kindness of strangers, he and his 20 family members would have spent the night in their van. Officials give latest update on Hatcher Mountain Wildfire. All rights reserved. As of Saturday morning, the Hatcher Mountain Wildfire had affected more than 300 structures and remained at 85% containment, according to a release by officials. Please refrain from bringing items to any locations at this time. Flames destroyed nearly 2,500 homes and left an estimated $2 billion in damages. We believe there was no way we could have controlled the fire prior to the wind event. #WearsValleyFire.. In response, weather experts said that combined with the dry vegetation and the strong winds, they issued a red flag warning. The Dupont fire startedMarch 31, burned nearly 1,000 acres and was fully contained a week later. Sevierville Convention Center, 202 Gists Creek Road in Sevierville, is now open as an evacuation shelter for persons displaced by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. A Warner Bros. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. ET Thursday fire officials said the Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire was 3,700 acres and approximately 100 structures had been affected the same numbers distributed in the 10 a.m. briefing. Tennessee officials declared an emergency and sent in the National Guard We appreciate that and are thankful for the donations, he said. 2023 Cable News Network. At least one structure in Blount County has been affected, Anderson said regarding the Millstone Gap Fire. Investigators said the state was unable to prove the criminal responsibility of the two juveniles beyond a reasonable doubt for the devastation that happened outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the high wind speeds that spread the fire from the mountains and into the city. Discovery Company. Crews are continuing to make areas affected by the fire safe enough that people can return to their homes, he said. Goodluck to all those fighting the fire. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park issued a high wind warning and stated it plannedto close several roads across the park in preparation for the expected high winds. He is requesting $250,000 in property damage, $150,000 for personal injury, and $13.5 million for the wrongful death of his wife and children. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Residents can use it to search their address to find out if they need to evacuate. Another fire that started March 26 about 17 miles south of Gatlinburg near Bryson City and Whittier, the Thomas Divide Fire, has burned 948 acres. Fourteen people were killed, and 191 people were injured in the fire. Flames erupted in a remote area with steep terrain that made access to the fire difficult for firefighters. 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. Officials estimated that about 11,000 homes were evacuated over the course of the day. A mandatory evacuation was issued for the Dupont Area from South Rogers Road to the Blount County/Sevier County line and Ownby Hills and Hidden Hills neighborhoods in the city of Gatlinburg. Officials with the Rural Metro Fire Department announced they deployed one engine and one chief officer to Sevier County to assist their incident management team. Eleven plaintiffs are suing the National Park Service, and the cases are broken down into two phases. The Mountain Tough website was restarted following the fires, which is where those wanted to donate can find more information. 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. He clarified that officials tried to reopen Wears Valley Road Thursday, but had to close it again due to hotspots. ", Things can be replaced, people cant, he said. WebWildfires in the Tennessee resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have killed at Multiple agencies responded to a large brush fire in the Wears Valley community Wednesday morning, according to the Sevier County Fire Department and the Tennessee Division of Forestry. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Dozens of Sevier County residents faced uncertainty Wednesday night as a raging wildfire came through the area. Besides the well-being of homeowners and dwellings in the tourist Great Smoky Mountains destination, the biggest worries are clusters of fallen trees. Residents and visitors needing general information, or having information to provide, on areas affected by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire may call 865-774-3899. The Millstone Gap Fire, on the other hand, is in a more rural area than the Hatchers Mountain Fire, Miller said. During this time, Constance observed flames coming from a house across the street. -Pass Departmental NFPA 1582 Complaint Physical Exam. He told her to contact 911. Sevier County Fire Chief David Puckett said he was grateful for every responders response and hard work. 2022-03-31. There is no indication that there is any criminal aspect to the fire, Waters said. Firefighters from across East Tennessee are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County as it continues to grow. It could be 1 to 3 oclock right, could be all night. All in all, Mayor Waters said, 70 local and federal agencies consisting of around 200 people responded to the fire. It wasnt until Dec. 13, 21 days after the fire started that the Sevier County Mayor announced that all fires in the city and the park were extinguished. At 9 a.m. Thursday the wind at Cove Mountain was 21 mph from the south-southwest with 81 percent RH. Despite the predictions, on Monday, Nov. 28, dry weather and extreme TDOT official Mark Nagi also announced Friday morning that his crews are assisting with fueling first response vehicles in Sevier County. Tennessee Forestry representative Bruce Miller gave a fire update, saying the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 95% contained. However, due to the extreme nature of the wind continued to be a problem for the area. All rights reserved. Twin brothers Beau and Zackary MacLellan lost their home and their jobs to the fire. The high wind gusts up to 87 mph, in addition to creating a firestorm, Herman Duran is one of the countless homeowners and residents impacted bythe two Smoky Mountainregion wildfires that broke out in late March. Red Cross officials confirmed the Pigeon Forge Community Center shelter will close at 2 p.m. Sunday. He said the fire had grown to 800 acres and was 0% contained, but also said the fire had not affected any structures. 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. Waters also said TBI and Sevier County Sheriffs Office investigators are looking into what caused the fire. In an effort to learn more, Knox News spoke to residents in the area about the brushfires happening once again in the Gatlinburg area. 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. If it keeps going, we already know well be here as long as we need, Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said. Kyle Grainger WVLT sent these photos in from the Hatcher Mountain fire as it is now being called. That doesnt mean people can go home just yet, he said, but rather that he would soon give control of the situation back to county officials. Several fire trucks took severe fire damage near Wears Valley. Highway 321, Wears Valley Road, was closed to traffic from Townsend to Pigeon Forge due to the fire. As we previously reported, NONE of our cabins were damaged in the blaze. The fire also grew to around 3,700 acres, affecting over 100 structures and even five fire agency vehicles, Waters said. 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. I dont have a vehicle, and I have no way out of here. Multiple agencies responded to a large brush fire Wednesday morning that was threatening homes in the area. The Knoxville Fire Department posted to Twitter saying that Saturday looked to be its last day in Sevier County supporting operations. At this time, Wears Valley Road is still closed. A mandatory evacuation was ordered Thursday afternoon for Smoky Ridge Way off Wears Valley Road due to increased fire activity. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The heavy rains that moved through on that Monday evening helped extinguish the flames. WVLT News spoke to Assistant Sevier County Mayor for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson, who confirmed that the Hatcher Mountain Wildfire is now 80% contained. Officials identified Robert A. Hejny, 63, who was found at Travelers Motel in Gatlinburg. At about 6 p.m. the department said it had burned approximately 250 acres. 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. 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.
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