The Real Story of the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016. At least 14,000 area residents and tourists were forced to evacuate, while over 2,000 buildings were damaged and/or destroyed. The death tolls is now at four. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WJHL) It has been now five years since the deadly wildfire that ravaged Gatlinburg Tennessee. The pledge to fund it would be at least $3 million. [16][17] In addition, the fires were also the most deadly and destructive of the 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires. At the point it was first reported, the fire was approximately 4 acres. What Caused the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016? But when I drove around the Southern end of Sevierville, I looked around and I could see haziness and orange. Evacuations were called. What caused Gatlinburg fire 2016? - Rattleinnaustin.com We were in Chalet Village when the area was engulfed in flame and smoke. Mother and daughters had run from their home in the Chalet Village community after they watched a neighbors house burst into flame. 2016 We ran over a pretty thick tree and almost got stuck on the way but managed to reverse out of there, when we reversed we hit a tree with the rear of the car but got unstuck from the front, luckily our bags didnt deploy and the car was still operable. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. (WJHL) It has been now five years since the deadly wildfire that ravaged Gatlinburg Tennessee. 321 was stalled for over an hour while they cleared a firetruck with a downed tree on it. Deadly Gatlinburg fire started by teens tossing lit matches on ground: Reports. I was still grieving the loss of my husband when this tragic fire exploded. Gatlinburg tends to offer more higher end restaurants. Dolly Parton is heartbroken by the news. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Gatlinburg Mountain Tough Benefit Festival: (December 17, 2016 in Downtown Gatlinburg) In collaboration with Ole Smoky Distillery, Yee-Haw Brewing Company, and Music City Roots, we are proud to announce #MountainTough, a day-long, outdoor mini-festival to combat the devastating toll of the recent wildfires and to assist those affected by them. What Caused the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016? Here's the Real Story We were scared and now there are still many people who are angry. Published: Dec. 24, 2022 at 10:17 AM PST GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and injured another. On our way there we were re routed in NC. I was born and raised in Blount County, a neighbor to Sevier County. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The Gatlinburg fire that killed 14 people was started by two teenagers dropping lit matches onto the ground along Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, sources close to the investigation told the Knoxville News Sentinel. Jellico was burning at the time as well, so, yeah, I got a high quality picture of that. I am so disappointed in the way this was handled. By the time local officials were informed about the true danger, the Chimney Tops 2 fire was unstoppable. PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Nov. 30, 2016)After receiving an overwhelming volume of donated supplies, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has opened a supply distribution center to serve those affected by recent wildfires and help the community and its members. How many homes were lost in the Gatlinburg fire? I still get panic attacks when I smell smoke and dont know where its coming from. (WVLT) On Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, a fire began on the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Here are photos from one week after the fires ravaged the area. The national park is now closed indefinitely due to the fire. Winds were so strong we could barely talk to each other. (WHSV) November 28th, 2016 is a day many in east Tennessee will never forget. A popular tourist destination was engulfed by flames. It began at The Chimney Tops, where a fire had been burning for several days. 2016 (WHSV) - November 28th, 2016 is a day many in east Tennessee will never forget. At least seven people have died and dozens have been hospitalized in wildfires in Tennessee that have ravaged a popular . It will be a long time before the scars of the Chimney Tops Fires AKA The Great Fire heal. The Pigeon Forge parkway and Gatlinburg parkway are home to some of the top attractions in the Great Smoky Mou CSGM Theme by carodactyll | Digital Marketing by YlliB, Inc. By continuing to use our website, you are accepting the use of cookies. 11-26-16 dreary Gatlinburg Fire by Gary Millar, Smokies Strong telethon raises $270,000 to assist disaster relief, LIST: What's damaged, destroyed and intact, Sevier County works to begin rebuilding process; offering employment assistance, Timeline: The response before fires hit Gatlinburg, 2 Juveniles Charged With Arson, Suspected Of Starting Deadly Tennessee Wildfire, $9 million raised for Dolly Parton's 'My People Fund' so far, Confirmed victims of Smoky Mountain wildfires, Charges dropped against juveniles in Gatlinburg wildfires, Gatlinburg Mountain Tough Benefit Festival, City Of Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, The Dollywood Foundation My People Fund , Sevier County Fire Relief Fund at any branch of Citizens National Bank in East Tennessee, Gatlinburg Relief Fund at any branch of SmartBank in East Tennessee. In addition, current roadwork occurring in Cades Cove along Forge Creek Road has been extended. A shocking 20.3% of Tennessee Residents believe that over 50% of downtown Gatlinburg was destroyed in the Gatlinburg wildfire. Best Hole in the Wall Restaurants in Gatlinburg, Top 9 Ranked. Dry conditions, wind and a hard-to-reach fire created hell on earth in 2016 The fires caught local and federal officials unprepared The fires caught local and federal officials unprepared It sadly claimed the lives of 14 people It sadly claimed the lives of 14 people And caused millions in damages And caused millions in damages On May 24, 2018, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on behalf of victims seeking damages for the failure to stop the Chimney Tops 2 fire before it left the park. The Chimney 2 Fire is increasingly being contained, while all of the fires in the Gatlinburg area have been successfully put out. Communication problems complicated the issue for local officials, who were ill-prepared for the level of hell approaching. 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. [7], One of the largest wildfires was the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres, and closed the Chimney Tops Trail.[14]. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. All rights reserved (About Us). We are overwhelmed by the generosity that has been shown. To this day I stress out over this. Even as officials in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevier County assess the damage caused by a massive wildfire, the question of how the blaze started continues. Those boys caused the Chimney fires and video taped it. My family is Old Family in Gatlinburg. Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in nearby Gatlinburg features another window to a wondrous underwater world w Smoky Mountain wildflowers are abundant as you hike through the national park. Makes me sick to my stomach seeing the video. KNOXVILLE, TENN (WLOS) A year and a half after the deadly Gatlinburg fires, one victim is now suing for negligence. Ultimately, hurricane-force winds blew embers from the park into Gatlinburg and the gusts downed power lines, sparking more fires. We were just there in mid October. I havent lived in Tennessee in the past nine years, but its my home state, so I was definitely scarred and heartbroken when this whole event happened. Gatlinburg and Sevier County burned Monday night, Nov. 28, 2016. A yellow brown haze was everywhere. Pigeon Forge offers great dining options as well. The G-burg fires remind me of the ole adage, We are from the Government, trust us, we are here to help. Meanwhile, back in Gatlinburg, life continued. Your visitation helps sustain our businesses and our employees. 25 from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Public Affairs Office, the fires started on Chimney Tops Trail a few miles south of Gatlinburg, off U.S. 441, at approximately 5:20 p.m. on Nov. 23. The problems manifested themselves in a myriad of ways. We continue to come to Gatlinburg frequently. What was destroyed in the Gatlinburg fire? Then around December, I went down to Tennessee with my parents and a sister, and I could see fire just about everywhere. Heres Our Top 7, Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? At this point in time, the distribution facility is at capacity. The strong winds carried burning embers, sparking still more hotspots and increasing the spread of the fire. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). Another smaller fire sparked near Seymour on Thursday but was 60% contained of Sunday afternoon. Our heart goes out to the people who lost their lives. I thought for sure we werent making it out. Of course, because of the size of the fire and the damage it inflicted, the fire was big news. Donation collection efforts that are already under way will be received at the distribution center. Took us several weeks to get the smoke smell out of our hair. Jordan and his crew let the KNP fire burn for five days before doing anything. That was my great nephew, Tony, driving the truck and his best friend, Michael, shooting the video. detailed cleanings to ever get the fire smell out of the vehicle. The Gatlinburg fire of 2016 began in late November - the day before Thanksgiving - on Chimney Tops Trail in a period of extreme drought. These responders were arriving throughout the unfolding of the firestorm, requiring staging, coordination and deployment. Another problem was the lack of sufficient interoperability among city, county, state and federal agencies which created critical obstacles to direct communications. On November 28, park employees observed that the fire had spread to the Chimneys Picnic Area north of and outside the containment boundary. The cause of the Hatcher Mountain Wildfire and the Millstone Gap Wildfire that burned thousands of acres was caused by downed power lines, according to officials. Sign in Home Local Headlines Coronavirus Original Recommend Entertainment Entertainment Celebrities TV & Videos Music Movies Miller told Nashville Public Radio some of the wind speeds topped 87 miles per hour, blowing embers up to a mile away. The smoke is what will kill you. What caused the Gatlinburg fire 2016? What Caused the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016? Here's the Real Story - NewsBreak In other words, messages sometimes did not reach the intended recipients due to a combination of factors. Those boys who started the fires should have been sent to adult prison for the lives they took by starting those fires.but, I guess when your daddy sucks up to certain people and does certain things you can get away with anything. Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park determined it was in a spot too difficult to fight due to the dangerous and steep terrain. Shortly thereafter fire was reported some distance further to the North in the park behind a residential area known as Mynatt Park. [21], Because of power outages to some pumping stations on November 28 and because other pumping stations burned, hydrants quickly went dry on November 28, and Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller first asked for help from all of Sevier County and later from the entire state. Published: ; Dec. 08, 2016, 12:05 p.m. A crew from Samaritan's Purse assists with clean up after the 2016 Gatlinburg fire (archive photo by Dr. Candi Overholt/TheSmokies.com). We ran , loaded up the van and was told there was only one way out and that was the road that goes past the Alamo restaurant and towards the Arts & crafts area. Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The Gatlinburg fire that killed 14 people was started by two teenagers dropping lit matches onto the ground along Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, sources close to the investigation told the Knoxville News Sentinel. The second part of the name came from the bloomery forge built by Isaac Love in 1817, on a site near the present Old Mill. We obviously arrived after much of the damage was done, and primary were sent there for search and rescue and clean up duty. The video is of them leaving. Tears flowed as we watched it unfold on the news. That persons attempt to keep the public notified through traditional means was severely hampered by power outages from the fire and storm. We finally made it out of town stopped at a gas station bathroom and met people who had evacuated from the hotel. I remember texting my niece to see if he was okay and she said I was just talking to him and he saidwe have to leave and hung up. Wind gusts had spread embers from the Chimney Tops fire and other small fires had begun to break out. I was a wild land firefighter based out of Oregon at the time, and our crew was sent to Gatlinburg to help fight the Chimney Tops 2 fire. Authorities recovered their remains near a home not far away on Wiley Oakley Road. Gatlinburg, TN. Large swaths of the forest that burned in November of 2016 have yet to completely heal. Additionally, critical communications links between the City of Gatlinburg EOC and TEMA were significantly interrupted and contributed to TEMA not sending the requested IPAWS message to evacuate Gatlinburg. Absolutely. It was listed as approximately 3 acres burning at the summit on the trail. sources close to the investigation told the Knoxville News Sentinel. At least 300 structures have been affected by the fires, which could mean anything from a burnt porch step to an entire cabin destroyed. We have spent so much time up there growing up and more recently we would spend Halloween weekends in a chalet with a HUGE batch of family. After the fires, Dolly Parton stepped up and organized massive fundraising. Also, communications were hampered due to the fire intensity and high winds. Defense attorney Gregory P. November of 2016 brought the largest wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks history, marking the largest natural disaster in Tennessees history. Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. In actuality, the fire reached Gatlinburgs city limits in two hours. and spread the word to any victims that they can pick up supplies here from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM through Saturday and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Sunday. After 5 days of the fire spreading around the northern part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into Gatlinburg, it was finally contained. Fire has been a part of the landscape in Tennessee throughout history. Three victims died together Constance Reed, 34, and her two daughters, Chloe, 12, and Lily, 9. Razed mountains hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy The following Monday morning of November 28, maintenance crews discovered that the containment area had failed, and the fire had spread across 250 acres - 10 times as big as it was the day before. One lady had a blanket wrapped around her waist as they demanded everyone get out as is. Inspecting the damage, firefighters said the putt-putt has been completely destroyed. November of 2016 brought the largest wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks history, marking the largest natural disaster in Tennessees history. I'm still cutting and removing some burned down trees. God bless the Smoky Mountains. Stay safe! On May 24, 2018, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on behalf of victims seeking damages for the failure to stop the Chimney Tops 2 fire before it left the park. Dad should be held responsible also. The day the sky turned red and yellow, the wind howled, and almost the whole East Tennessee valley started to smell the burning I knew that the night and morning would bring massive death and destruction. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Forge Creek Road has been closed to all use since November 2, 2020, to replace five bridges. PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Dec. 3, 2016)The Pigeon Forge Distribution Center at 149 Cates Lane has been receiving donations from across the country this week. Authorities recovered their remains near a home not far away on Wiley Oakley Road. 2460 structures were damaged or destroyed and 17,136 acres were burned. Fourteen people were killed and 200 more were injured. One of the powerful stories from the 2016 Sevier County wildfire came from a family trapped at the Park Vista hotel in Gatlinburg. But we will never forget the lost lives. Did the NPS make the situation 1,000x worse by ignorance, arrogance and inaction? What caused the Gatlinburg wildfire? - al.com Her theme park, Dollywood (in Pigeon Forge), was largely spared from damage. We lost both my aunt & uncle in the fire and by the grace of God my 3 cousins survived after time spent in the burn unit at Vanderbilt. Overheated Conveyor Belt Motor Appears To Have Caused Fire That Killed Husband taking a shower, when he came out and had just gotten dressed the phone wrung.