Gatlnburg Smoky Mountain fire

doomsdave

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By now you've probably heard a lot about that wildfire that went through Gatlinburg and surrounding areas of Sevier County Tennessee on November 28, 2016.

I was a bit freaked. My brother and I went there in 1994 and that whole area seemed like a rainforest.

In California where I live, fires are a too-frequent occurrence, and getting worse lately. I've seen what happens when hurricane force winds blow a fire through homes - the houses, and anyone home at the time, lose, big time. Like Sherman's march only faster.

I note that the fire had been burning since November 23, 2016, a full five days before. Did anyone try to put it out? Anyone know anything about that?

It could have been worse, but that's scary to think of.

In any case, I feel safe in saying that everyone on this site prays for anyone in that area.

Anyone have any thoughts? Anyone on this site from there?


 
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hbunny

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I'm in Tennessee, thank you for the prayers.  I have a lot of friends that live in that area. 

Yes, they had been continually trying to put it out.  There was more than one main fire. Firemen and first responders from all over the state, and several other states, were there continually, along with the National Guard bringing in helicopters dumping water. Finally some rain brought relief and helped out.  It has been a massive collaborative effort to put it out.  That area is really far from being a rainforest, it's not near as humid and rainy as the West end of the state where I live, but this year there had actually been an extended period of drought that contributed heavily to the spread of the fire. 

Two juveniles have been arrested for arson on the Chimney Tops fire, if they decide to try them as adults, they will release their names.  No other information has been released yet (i.e., whether it was intentional or accidental). There is supposed to be a televised press conference in about 45 minutes that I'm going to try to catch on the tv in our work break room with updates on the arrest. 

Downtown Gatlinburg, where the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokys and the "strip" as we call it, is okay.  It was more ENE of Gatlinburg, behind the NE side of the strip.  But many older landmarks, like the Wedding Chapel, burned.  The Fork--the stretch of road between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, was burned badly.  It is to the West of Gatlinburg.  14 people total lost their lives, including a couple from Memphis whose 3 sons escaped by running through a wall of fire.  They were trapped trying to evacuate when a burning tree fell across the road in front of them.

Around the same time, Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga had a horrible fire as well--it was slightly before Thanksgiving.  Then a tornado hit NE Alabama just SE of Chattanooga right after Thanksgiving.  First responders in this entire area have had a horrific November. 
 
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doomsdave

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hbunny:

Hmm. Given where I'm at, I guess any place that isn't a semi-desert is a "rainforest." I understand that the fire actually started on a ridgetop, which is a lot drier -- and more flammable -- than the valleys below. Glad to hear they tried to put it out. I know how tough that can be, heaven alone only knows!

When my brother and I went there, we went to this giant knife store, with a blue roof if memory serves. Don't recall the name of it. I think Johnny Cash had a museum (closed when we went there).  I lost count at something like 20 wedding chapels. There were a couple of year-round Christmas stores. And helicopter tours! They practically dragged us out of the car.

It's been a rough year, sure enough. Hope next year is better!

Who's the nice kitty in your avatar?
 
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hbunny

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I bet the knife store you went to was in Pigeon Forge, Old Smoky Mountain Knifeworks. 

That is Wurp, my very old, grumpy guy!
 
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doomsdave

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I bet the knife store you went to was in Pigeon Forge, Old Smoky Mountain Knifeworks. 

That is Wurp, my very old, grumpy guy!
That's the place!

Wurp is adorable. So fuzzy . . .
 

Pook

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I live here in the mountains and not far from Gatlinburg. We've had wildfires here too, and this whole area has been a mess. We've been praying and taking stuff out to the drop-off points for the firefighters. 

It was so bad once I was going down I-26 and we couldn't see through the smoke haze. 

But we were lucky. Still praying for the evacuees and those who lost everything and family.

This has been the worst I've ever seen.
 

MoochNNoodles

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My husband is originally from north east Tennessee.  We rented a cabin between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg for our honeymoon.  We spent time in both towns and hiking in the park.  We've vacationed there one other time.  I love that area.  So I followed the news closely.  It's really been so devastating.  I have a friend who lives just outside Knoxville and it really hit close to home for them.  We were both pretty sick over the woman and her 2 daughters who had called her husband.  We really hoped they had managed to escape.  Heart-wrenching.  I just might have a picture of myself next to that burned Gatlinburg welcome sign that has been in the news.  I know I have one with the sign at the entrance to the Smokey Mountain National Park.  DH really loves those mountains.

DH and I stuck to trails for our hikes; but I remember the mountains as much more steep and rugged than the Adirondacks where I grew up hiking.  The roads to the cabins were steeper and more narrow with turns than what we took in the Adirondacks too.  Even knowing other cabins were around; we felt very isolated and private at ours.  But I can see how the fires would spread fast and make escape difficult.  Add in the dry leaves from the fall, the drought and the winds; well it was a recipe for disaster.  I still haven't heard how the historic structures on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail faired.  A few I heard were ok.  That is a really beautiful and interesting look into the past. I know they were on the edge of the fire map; cutting it really close!
 
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