Officials added more addresses to the mandatory evacuation order for the Hatcher Mountain Fire. 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. Positioned on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains, the area also is popular with outdoors enthusiasts and has a wide variety of other attractions, including music theaters, outlet malls, go-kart tracks and miniature golf courses. While heading to his cabin, Duranstopped along the way to talk to Sevier County Fire Administrator David Puckett. 8:40 PM EDT, Thu March 31, 2022. 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. Residents can use it to search their address to find out if they need to evacuate. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene; one man was injured Wednesday and flown out by LifeStar. Bruce Miller with Tennessee Forestry also gave an update. Evacuations are in effect. The combination of the precipitation and the winds dying down is a big step in the right direction. Winds were expected to die down Thursday. Flames destroyed nearly 2,500 homes and left an estimated $2 billion in damages. SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - Responders from several East Tennessee agencies are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County. Several apparatus and a dozer lost on the Wears Valley fire; dozer operator burned and flown out. 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. 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. There are no reports of fatalities or missing people as a result of the blaze, The Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire that startedMarch 30 burned nearly 2,500 acres, damaging 219 structures and destroying 130 of those. 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. It was 30% contained as of Thursday afternoon, officials said. The area is home to rental cabins with some permanent residences. The fire is known as the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire according to the Emergency Management department. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - More than 100 people were displaced after an apartment fire in Pigeon Forge, according to Sevier County dispatch. Stay vigilant. The high wind gusts up to 87 mph, in addition to creating a firestorm, 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. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by confirming that there had been no fatalities as of Friday. 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. Copyright 2022 WVLT. 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. 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. WebArmy helicopters were called in to drop water on the flames as a state of emergency was declared in the city of Pigeon Forge. He also told WVLT News that buses are en route to Pigeon Forge Primary, Intermediate, Junior High and High School to dismiss students. As of Sunday afternoon, the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 98% contained and all affected areas are now open. On Nov. 23, 2016 a fire started on the Chimney Tops Mountains and five days later, it had reached the city of Gatlinburg. The blaze started as a house fire, he said. Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said two juveniles were charged with aggravated arson, but the charges were dropped, according to attorney Greg Isaacs. -Pass Departmental NFPA 1582 Complaint Physical Exam. I feel bad for them people.. 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. We know they are anxious, we are trying to get everything under control as quick as they can.. We are predominately making efforts on the western line of the [Hatcher Mountain] fire, he said. Officials identified Robert A. Hejny, 63, who was found at Travelers Motel in Gatlinburg. He also confirmed that less than 10 people stayed the night Thursday at the Pigeon Forge Community Shelter. The buckets allow helicopters to transport hundreds of gallons of water from local sources to the site of the fire where needed. At this time, Wears Valley Road is still closed. The My People Fund gave families thousands of dollars and a chance for people to rebuild. Due to WVLT News spoke to Assistant Sevier County Mayor for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson, who confirmed that the Hatcher Mountain Wildfire is now 80% contained. All Rights Reserved. The Millstone Gap Fire, on the other hand, is in a more rural area than the Hatchers Mountain Fire, Miller said. Seymour Heights Christian Church, located at 122 Boyds Creek Highway, is opening its doors to anyone displaced by the fire. 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. 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. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Dozens of Sevier County residents Sevier County officials gave an official update on the wildfire fight in Sevier County Saturday afternoon. 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. 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 night of Nov. 28, 2016, they werent aware of the chaos surrounding them until they received a knock on the door. 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. What we do is we evaluate active fires, hotspots, Miller said. He said that after a night of fighting, responders had gotten the fire 5% contained. The smoke could be seen for miles, as a plume was captured on the National Weather Service radar stretching from Pigeon Forge to Dandridge. A brushfire near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, forced evacuations on Wednesday, March 30. 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. Web-Must reside in State of Tennessee no further than 30 road miles from the Pigeon Forge Fire Station #1 or Fire Station #2. Guests staying in Sevier County's park vista hotel described being trapped inside by wildfires that raged in 2016, 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. She reached out to her husband to ask what she should do. It looks scary on TV, but Im proud of how everyone in the area has pulled together like they always do. It was a bad combination for the area on Wednesday. All in all, Mayor Waters said, 70 local and federal agencies consisting of around 200 people responded to the fire. )Please call 911 for EMERGENCIES ONLY. Tennessee National Guard officials told WVLT News that they have provided six UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to support responders in Sevier County Thursday morning. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. We will provide donation information for both items and money later this afternoon. Officials reported that evacuation alerts went out on cell phones, but some residents said they never received the alerts. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new articles by email. Flying over Wears Valley pic.twitter.com/H7KQbUep14, Pete Michaels Traffic (@MetroSkyWatch) March 31, 2022. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. We have personnel going door to door, he said. Did you encounter any technical issues? #tnwx #wildfire 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. Responders have confirmed to WVLT News that the wildfire in Sevier County has grown to 1,000 acres and affected 35 structures. Miller confirmed that his crews were in the mop up phase, primarily checking hotspots that could restart parts of the fire. 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. https://bit.ly/3u1KXel. The Countys Emergency Management department said it is in the Hatcher Mountain Road and Indigo Lane area of the Wears Valley Community. What you need to know as crews continue to fight a wildfire in Sevier Co. More: https://bit.ly/3IQcELz. Despite these challenges, we sent police fire and mass transit to evacuate citizens and visitors, said Miller. 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. 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. The cop was like, You need to leave, like now, Zackary MacLellan reflected. At about 6 p.m. the department said it had burned approximately 250 acres. A small crew remained in the area to monitor hot spots, the station said. View all posts by Bill Gabbert. The Hatcher Mountain Road Fire grew over the course of Thursday, but authorities also announced an increase in the containment of the 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. It could be 1 to 3 oclock right, could be all night. The Sevierville Convention Center, at 202 Gists Creek Road in Sevierville, is open as an evacuation shelter for persons displaced by the fire. I'm just really hoping everybody came off the mountain.. pic.twitter.com/mfFfiReWBB, Ben Cathey (@bencatheywvlt) March 31, 2022. Appears the dozer operator info may be false; Fire now at 3000 acres. About half an inch of rainfall is expected early Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon the humidity will be in the 50s with 10 to 14 mph southwest winds gusting to 29 mph. We are confident we have this fire in good check, he said. The Kings Academy is open as a shelter for those evacuating due to local fires. Country superstar and East Tennessee native Dolly Parton created the My People Fund to help victims of the wildfires. Their three sons Paul, Shawn, and Phillip were sent to the burn unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center. WVLT News also spoke with Brook Smith, a forester at the scene, who said as nightfall nears the situation may improve some. Helicopters have been dropping water on the fire since early Thursday morning. Please refrain from bringing items to any locations at this time. When asked how he felt personally, Waters said he felt nervous and asked for prayers. He also asked that anyone wanted to donate supplies do so through mountaintough.org. Multiple communities under evacuation orders as wildfires grow and new ones spark overnight. This is our favorite place to come, love it down there, sure hope no one get hurt or worse. Massive mutual aid response via TN Mutual Aid Systen. pic.twitter.com/VU3I6B4zLs. Knoxville Fire Department officials told WVLT News just after 8 p.m. that they deployed four units to Wears Valley to assist in fighting the fires, according to Knoxville Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Wilbanks. Officials updated yesterdays estimate of 2,675 acres burned to 2,498 acres. Copyright 2021 WVLT. 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. Residents told WBIR they noticed smoke that appeared to resemble a chimney fire in the area. The fire was pushed Wednesday afternoon by winds recorded at the Indian Grave weather station gusting out of the southwest at up to 36 mph while the relative humidity was 30 percent at one point reaching as low as 22 percent. Besides the well-being of homeowners and dwellings in the tourist Great Smoky Mountains destination, the biggest worries are clusters of fallen trees. According to Knox News , the fire had zero-percent containment going into the late-night hours. @myTDOT crews in the area are still assisting with fueling first response vehicles and where needed with traffic control. The Millstone Gap Fire grew to 650 acres as crews continue to fight both fires. As we previously reported, NONE of our cabins were damaged in the blaze. Just a few hours prior to the commercial structure fire, at 6:59 p.m. on 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. Waters said 11,000 homes had been evacuated throughout the day. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - An evacuation was ordered for 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. The Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive is available for individuals displaced by the fire. "We're currently putting in lines and doing structure protection," Smith said. A wildfire burns in Sevier County, Tennessee, on Wednesday. Seymours shelter was closed, Mayor Waters said. The wind was expected to make travel hazardous due to trees being blown down. We are receiving many donation offers and are working on locations where donations can be dropped. Remembering the Gatlinburg Wildfires five years later. Those interested in helping can go to this website to arrange donations. Officials with the Pigeon Forge Police Department said no traffic will be able to travel into Wears Valley from Pigeon Forge until further notice. The buckets suspend from the helicopter and contain valves on the bottom the crew can use to dispense water. 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. Survivors of the wildfires sued the National Parks Service regarding their response to the fires. Sevier County officials updated the evacuation map, linked above, to highlight the most up-to-date evacuation orders Friday afternoon. 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.. Live Update (4:16 p.m.): WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson said the number of While Wears Valley Road has reopened, several roads remain closed due to hotspots and for first responders to continue work. Earlier Wednesday, Sevier County warned of astrong storm system approaching the area, bringing damaging winds to the entire area. Officials have not determined a cause, and evacuations are still in place. Once buses arrive, students will be dismissed accordingly. Alice Hagler was reported missing by her family and later confirmed dead. They were staying in Chalet Village on Crooked Ridge Road. Clemmons spent lodging money on a cabin for the trip, which ended up in the evacuation zone. After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire. The Hatcher Mountain Fire has impacted 100 structures and 3,700 acres, not including spot fires across the county. 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. Have a wildland fire news tip? Red Cross volunteers have been put on standby and are ready to help if an overnight shelter is needed, said Sharon Hudson,executive director of the Eastern Tennessee chapter. A new fire started Wednesday in Sevier County, Tennessee approximately four miles southwest of Pigeon Forge and six miles northwest of Gatlinburg. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. 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. appreciated. The fires caused more than $66 million in damages in Sevier County, according to early estimates. County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by confirming that there had been no fatalities or missing persons overnight. Waters did not have an update on the civilians condition. On Thursday, things expect to be different. "It meant a lot to me," he said. Map: In light of Smokies fire in Wears Valley, track wildfires in Tennessee The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. 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. WebI would describe this as flooding in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Tennessee, but certainly heavy rain rising the water levels throughout. Officials said they plan on beginning assessments for damaged areas following the fire, and asked that people do not call 911 for damage reports. One video shows firefighters escaping as flames jump at them, propelled by high winds. As spring break runs through next week, this means that students should return to schools on Monday, April 11. 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. Kaitlin Wright tweeted, Devastating video of the wildfire ongoing near the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. Helicopters made bucket drops to slow the spread of the fire. Its UTV was been requested, officials posted. Wears Valley Road is still closed from Waldens Creek to Valley View. A temporary shelter is set up at the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive. A Warner Bros. (No insurance company calls, please. About 150 people were evacuated Sunday and the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Pigeon Forge Community Center. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As of just after 9pm local time, WATE reports the fire is 45% under control. 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 blaze prompted evacuations and closings. 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. 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. Duran currently lives in Coral Gables, Florida. 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. An evacuation was ordered for downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and 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. WVLT News spoke with Sevier Co. officials, who confirmed the fire was still 45% contained as of 4:08 p.m. Friday. Officials with the Knoxville Fire Department confirmed that they would remain in Sevier County throughout the night, and likely into Saturday as well Friday afternoon. I stand behind the people who made decisions. Tennessee Division of Forestry spokesperson Brook Smith told Knox News, Were currently putting in lines and doing structure protection. She concluded, As the fire breaks those containment lines, we are pulling back and readjusting, and putting in new lines. We were trying to stay here because the alert said it was a shelter, but when we got here they were saying no.. 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. All manpower and resources from the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Fire departments were used to stop the blaze. Dozens of Sevier County residents faced uncertainty Wednesday night as a raging wildfire stormed through the area. Our response was challenged due to loss of internet and cell service. Elaine Brown, 81, died after she sustained a medical event that caused a multi-vehicle accident on Wears Valley Road while fleeing the fire. This means the fire is more unaccusable. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. 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. Folks on Twitter could not believe the visuals of what was going on in Pigeon Forge yesterday. Officials give latest update on Hatcher Mountain Wildfire. EMA personnel also asked that people do not drop off donations at this time. Sevier County Fire Chief David Puckett said he was grateful for every responders response and hard work. "It could be worse," Duran told Knox News of his predicament. The map below shows the evacuation area. In the meantime, at least three shelters were opened to accommodate those potentially displaced by the fires, according to county officials. Duran was wearing a veteran's hat and mentioned his military service, he said. The wildfires touched over 1,000 acres. Fortunately the weather is not what it was the other night, he said, referring to Wednesdays wind gusts. The fire spanned 30 to 40 acres. The wildfires touched over 1,000 acres. "Fire at the Red Roof Mall in Pigeon Forge. " Phase one will be a trial on duty and breach and will be applied to all parties involved. A temporary shelter is set up at the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive. Mayor Waters said he found that more people took the evacuation warnings seriously than in 2016, which helped responders fight the fire and keep people out of danger. It was surreal, Goodhue told the KnoxvilleNews Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. 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. 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. Responders also spoke on coordination during the fight, saying they paired out-of-town responders with local ones that could provide directions when needed. CNNs Melissa Alonso, Sara Smart and Chris Boyette contributed to this report. WebShortly thereafter fire was reported some distance further to the North in the park behind This comes after fire crews were preparing for the threat of wildfires due to a Red Flag Warning. In response, weather experts said that combined with the dry vegetation and the strong winds, they issued a red flag warning. "As the fire breaks those containment lines, we are pulling back and readjusting, and putting in new lines. There will be an update on the noon news here shortly. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. Sevier County Emergency Management Agency shared the following roads are closed to the public at this time: Sevier County Schools officials announced Thursday afternoon that school would be cancelled Friday, April 1 due to the ongoing effects of the Hatcher Mountain Fire. Wind-fueled wildfires swept across Sevier County in 2016 claiming lives, homes and livelihoods forever changing the landscape of Gatlinburg and the Smokies. It looks like somebody just went through there and just dropped a bomb on the place, Shannon McCostlin told WATE. Waters also said TBI and Sevier County Sheriffs Office investigators are looking into what caused the fire. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much All rights reserved. If it keeps going, we already know well be here as long as we need, Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said. ", Things can be replaced, people cant, he said. Firefighters in Sevier County said they were on level 4 alert of 5 for the threat of wildfires on Tuesday. 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. Some are calling it the Indigo Lane Fire. I could see the smoke coming off of Waldens Creek back there, and I was like, That's coming from where I live.. The fire spread rapidly and widely because of wind gusts that blew up to 87 mph on Monday night, according to Miller. Dozens of people gathered Wednesday afternoon ona nearby highway, anxiously assessing the status of a fire that erupted in the Wears Valley community. Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 09:10 AM EST. 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. Volunteers from around the world calmed the fears of victims as they donated millions of dollars to the relief fund. 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. Copyright 2022 WVLT. Highway 321, Wears Valley Road, was closed to traffic from Townsend to Pigeon Forge due to the fire. Kyle Grainger WVLT sent these photos in from the Hatcher Mountain fire as it is now being called.