Gatlinburg neighborhood voluntarily evacuating due to fire | WBIR.com

 

SEVIER COUNTY - 9PM UPDATE: Wildfires driven by wind gusts are prompting the evacuations of multiple areas of Gatlinburg including downtown Gatlinburg, fire officials said Monday night.

 

Some areas of Pigeon Forge also are being evacuated including residents and guests located in the areas between traffic light 8 and the Spur, according to spokeswoman Trish McGee.

 

"Three county school buses are available for emergency transport and are being dispatched as needed to transport those who need to evacuate," according to a statement from McGee.

 

National Park Service and Gatlinburg officials stressed the fire posed a serious threat that would not abate until rains came.

 

Link with several photos showing smoke and fire

Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge wildfire evacuation information | WATE 6 On Your Side

 

Dangerous situation down there. Gatlinburg may be in some serious shape as these fires spread and get closer to downtown.

Watching the live stream in that link they said one of the weather stations in Gatlinburg measures a temp of 118 degrees at 8:30 pm.

Luckily it has started raining there as of a few minutes ago and should keep raining for a couple hours. Hopefully that helps some.

Tonight's rain should help, hopefully it doesn't get windy and cause the fires to spread.

Apparently you can spell the smoke as far as NKY. Fox News reporter said they could at the station.

Over 30 structures are currently on fire in Gatlinburg. The mountainside behind the aquarium is on fire. One of the hotels was surrounded by flames, briefly trapping guests. And it sounds like all of this was started by arson.

 

As for the smoke smell in NKY, we can smell it here in Independence. We've actually smelled smoke for the past 2 nights.

Went out to my truck last night and was confused thinking who is having a fire in the rain. It took a few minutes to figure it out. The smell was strong

Apparently you can spell the smoke as far as NKY. Fox News reporter said they could at the station.

 

Someone at work this morning said they read that as well.

 

I have a hard time believing it was smoke from there. I know smoke can travel a long way, but Gatlinburg is 300 miles away and I don't feel like the wind blows Northwest. Figured they smelled some other smoke and just trying to capitalize on the Gatlinburg story to get some more clicks for their stations.

Not joking with this, but if people are saying this was arson, wouldn't this be the easiest form of terrorism? Wouldn't even take a lot of planning.

I walked outside my house in Taylor Mill at 10:30pm last night to turn out my Christmas lights and I was wondering who had a fire pit going that late in the rain.

Ober Gatlinburg along with 2 other resorts have been destroyed.

Fire forces evacuations in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge | WBIR.com

 

Watching a live feed here this morning.

Went out to my truck last night and was confused thinking who is having a fire in the rain. It took a few minutes to figure it out. The smell was strong

 

I did the same thing. I was thinking the neighbor had his fireplace torched up. Guess it was the Smokies!

Report on TV today said some folks were trapped in a resort. Too dangerous to leave. Heavy smoke and trees blocking the exit route. Fireman barricaded the first floor and busted out windows on the second floor so smoke could escape. That has to be scary.