Fire in the Smokies

[Rich Riddle]

Have any of you been following the fires in the Smoky Mountains? A friend owns a cabin just up the hill from Gatlinburg and it sounds like that area took a beating. Hope the Creekers from that area stay safe.

[kevin st john]

Yes, I have been reading about it. Makes a guy think that always cutting down the trees for development is not such a good idea. Just my 2 cents.

[Michael Weber]

Been watching it closely. We have reservations for a cabin for six days starting the day after Christmas for family. Not sure what to do except wait and see how bad it is. Hopefully if it's bad, I can get a refund. Who wants to have a family vacation in a burnt out area? May drive over in a week or so to assess.

[Ronald Blue]

I fail to see what cutting down trees has to do with this. This is a heavily wooded region and at least some of this destruction was the result of arson as two men have been arrested.

[Rich Riddle]

I am hoping it doesn't migrate toward Newport, Tennessee where they have all the stills in the woods. I can't imagine what would happen if the fire found all that liquor.

[julian abram]

Too late for Gatlinburg and area but hopefully some heavy rains today will put the hurt on it (the fire).

[John K Jordan]

Have any of you been following the fires in the Smoky Mountains? A friend owns a cabin just up the hill from Gatlinburg and it sounds like that area took a beating. Hope the Creekers from that area stay safe.

I live north and west of Gatlinburg. One member of our Knoxville turning club lives in Gatlinburg and cannot yet be reached, but that's not unusual since everyone was evacuated. Many people lost their houses and cabins and a number of businesses burned. Some are in shelters, some left the area to stay with others. Arrowmont craft school apparently lost two dormatories and perhaps a barn. Several people in the area died, some are missing.

Local organizations are collecting supplies and there is a call out for assistance with caring for displaced animals. The aquarium in Gatlinburg (with over 10,000) animals, is suspect to be OK the last I heard.

Electronic traffic signs in Knoxville this morning warn drivers headed that way of smoke and fire. Heavy rain here all night and so far today should help slow the fire spread.

One report said the high winds (40-60 mph) knocked down trees which started numerous fires when they hit electrical lines. In hindsight, it might have been better to kill the electrical power to the entire area when the first such fire started and for as long as the high winds continued. I'd much rather sit in the dark for hours than have to find a place to live while building a new house.

JKJ

[Brent Cutshall]

I've got some cousins over in Gatlinburg. It looks bad over there from the pictures I've seen. I hate it when fires are east or west of me. That's the way the winds normally blow so if it's close, it's not good. Thankful for the rain. Lots o' rain!

[John K Jordan]

The news this morning put the estimate of the number of buildings destroyed in Gatlinburg at about 400. Seven deaths so far, search not yet complete.

Update from Clay Foster on Arrowmont: "Wild Wing and Hughes Hall are gone. They were the two newest housing buildings on campus. A storage shed burned. The Red Barn still stands, as well as all other buildings on campus."

[daryl moses]

I live less than two hours away from Gatlinburg and it saddens me to see the destruction and loss of life
We had three separate wildfires burning in my county the same time Gatlinburg was on fire but the tornados and torrential rain put them out lol.

[John K Jordan]

The news tonight puts the dead in Gatlinburg at 10 and the buildings destroyed at 700. I just can't imagine.

[Bill Bukovec]

We are 2 1/2 hours northeast of Gatlinburg. Spent the Day after Thanksgiving at Dollywood. (I would highly recommend Dollywood). We have been smelling smoke for a few weeks from fires around us. If your plans to stay at Gatlinburg don't work out, y'all can come up to Butler, TN. Cherokee Forrest Mountain Cabins is one place to stay that is beautiful and has great accomodations .

[Rich Riddle]

A police officer took some pictures of my friends chalet in Gatlinburg as a favor (my friend is a retired police officer). Nothing left.

Chimney.JPG Fire.jpg

[John K Jordan]

News this morning: 40-80 mph winds carried embers, starting other fires at least 8 miles away.

Death toll rising with the search, 13 so far.
News yesterday: the fire was so intense that bodies of people caught outside may never be found.

Someone posted this picture. The fire was so intense it melted the aluminum wheels and engine block:



News yesterday: over 700 homes and commercial buildings up in smoke.


14,000 people displaced. 200 in shelters as of yesterday.
Pets and livestock being housed at the fairgrounds.


Besides the fire fighters, others such as electrical workers are there - my neighbor was sent there a couple of days ago.


Three of our turning club members live in the area and reported that they and their houses are OK.

JKJ

[Brent Cutshall]

It's a worrying subject thinking about this. I've started to hum "fire on the mountain, run boys run!" from "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". Need some more rain.