Officials estimated that about 11,000 homes were evacuated over the course of the day. The Millstone Gap Fire, on the other hand, is in a more rural area than the Hatchers Mountain Fire, Miller said. Very little current information is available about this fire. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. Investigators said the state was unable to prove the criminal responsibility of the two juveniles beyond a reasonable doubt for the devastation that happened outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park due to the high wind speeds that spread the fire from the mountains and into the city. Residents can evacuate to the Pigeon Forge Community Center if needed. Seymour Heights Christian Church, (122 Boyd's Creek Highway) and the Pigeon Forge Community Center (170 Community Center Drive) are available as shelters for persons displaced by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. All rights reserved. Emma Frederick and her family, who were staying at an Airbnb rental in Sevier County for the week, received an alert about the evacuations Wednesday afternoon when they were out, and were unable to retrieve their belongings from the cabin. Sevierville Convention Center, 202 Gists Creek Road in Sevierville, is now open as an evacuation shelter for persons displaced by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. 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. Thewind is making this fire very hard to manage.". Despite the predictions, on Monday, Nov. 28, dry weather and extreme National Park Service says never push a slower friend down when escaping a bear, Knoxville utilities crews work to restore power after intense storms, Lisa Edwards family retains civil rights attorney, Band protests TN drag bill by wearing dresses, Tennessee GOP lawmaker apologizes over hanging comment, New TN aquarium exhibit showcases Appalachian aquatic life. Priorities are shifting now, Miller said, from the Hatcher Mountain Fire to the Millstone Gap Fire. Waters said 11,000 homes had been evacuated throughout the day. No cause has been determined at this time. Kyle Grainger WVLT sent these photos in from the Hatcher Mountain fire as it is now being called. Mayor Waters confirmed that there had still been no fatalities in the week, and the only person seriously injured had been released from the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene; one man was injured Wednesday and flown out by LifeStar. Resident Robert Goodhue was turned around mid-afternoon by a state trooperas he was driving towards his home. It looks like somebody just went through there and just dropped a bomb on the place, Shannon McCostlin told WATE. The recordings also detail the heroic efforts of crews battling the blaze behind the scenes. According to Sevier County Emergency Management, after visiting the website with the above evacuation map, users cantype their address into the window to see if they are within the evacuation area. 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. Fourteen people were killed, and 191 people were injured in the fire. Officials reported that evacuation alerts went out on cell phones, but some residents said they never received the alerts. A wildfire near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee has spread to nearly 4,000 acres as of Thursday morning and is only5% contained, according toSevier County Mayor Larry Waters. It was a bad combination for the area on Wednesday. He also told WVLT News that buses are en route to Pigeon Forge Primary, Intermediate, Junior High and High School to dismiss students. They were hoping to reunite it with its owner. Live: Officials give an update on Wears Valley wildfire. Those in the Sevier County area can get the lasted information through the WVLT News app or from officials through Sevier County alerts, which come to cell phones automatically. Follow here for live updates on what officials are calling the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. He said the fire had grown to 800 acres and was 0% contained, but also said the fire had not affected any structures. For folks that lived in Walden Creek and Wears Valley, authorities asked them to evacuate as it was a dangerous place to be on Wednesday afternoon. Along with those updates should come a more accurate number of structures affected. KFD will remain throughout the night, and likely into Saturday. Michael Reed is suing on behalf of his wife, Constance Reed, 34, and their two daughters, Chloe Reed, 12, and Lily Reed, 9. WebWildfires in the Tennessee resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge have killed at Sevier County officials have officially restarted the Mountain Tough program. Tennessee National Guard officials confirmed to WVLT News that a helicopter they sent to assist with the fire suffered engine failure and had to make an emergency landing around 11:25 a.m. All four crewmembers were unharmed in the landing, and the helicopter reportedly only suffered minor damage. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Dozens of Sevier County residents faced uncertainty Wednesday night as a raging wildfire came through the area. Sevier County dispatch told WVLT News that there was a two-mile evacuation from Parkside Resort near Little Cove Road and Pine Mountain Road. In a 10 a.m. briefing on Thursday officials said the wildfire southwest of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which is being referred to as the Indigo Lane Fire and Hatcher Mountain Fire, has burned 3,700 acres and affected 100 structures. Five fire apparatus vehicles were damaged. Copyright 2022 WVLT. Jon Summers, 61, and Janet Summers, 61, were from Memphis, Tennessee. Officials will work as fast as we can so that our folks can go home, he added. I know folks want to go home, he said We are going to work as fast and diligently as we can so folks can go home and check on property., In a message to homeowners, Waters said we are working as hard as we can. The heavy rains that moved through on that Monday evening helped extinguish the flames. They made solid decisions and saved thousands of lives, GSMNP Superintendent Cassius Cash told WVLT News in 2016. Because of this, the addition of overnight rain was a necessity on Wednesday evening. Updated Sevier County officials give the latest information in the fight against the Hatcher Mountain Fire. 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.. LG&E gives power outage update for Fridays severe weather, WAVE Weather Now Syncbak Channel Embed for PBE Page, Man killed in Blankenbaker Lane crash identified by officials, Governor Beshear provides updates after storms and damaging winds, Louisville mayor declares state of emergency due to severe weather. Responders also spoke on coordination during the fight, saying they paired out-of-town responders with local ones that could provide directions when needed. A trial date is set for July 12, 2022, at 9 a.m. at the U.S. -Pass Departmental NFPA 1582 Complaint Physical Exam. The buckets allow helicopters to transport hundreds of gallons of water from local sources to the site of the fire where needed. pic.twitter.com/VU3I6B4zLs. At about 6 p.m. the department said it had burned approximately 250 acres. -Pass Departmental NFPA 1582 Complaint Physical Exam. He told her to contact 911. 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. Last night we conducted fire patrol@and extinguished hot spots. In a 10 a.m. briefing on Thursday officials said the wildfire southwest of 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. The high winds knocked down power lines and started other fires, hindering communication to order mandatory evacuations. The fire in Indigo is looking very good.. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters opened the conference by confirming that there had been no fatalities as of Friday. Today, KFD continues to support the Wildland fire operations in Sevier county in various capacities. Wednesday morning Sevier Countys residents received a message telling them to report to the Pigeon Forge Community Center after evacuating their homes, but only late that night did EMA officials classify it as a shelter. Instead, officials referred to the center as an evacuation center.. Severe weather poses statewide threat of strong straight-line winds, severe thunderstorms, and tornadic activity. At 5:15 p.m. 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. A Warner Bros. It looks scary on TV, but Im proud of how everyone in the area has pulled together like they always do. While the crew had been unable to save that particularcabin, they said,they took down the flag when they retreated. As the strong weather system moved through the area Wednesday night the weather station at Cove Mountain recorded winds out of the south-southeast and south with sustained speeds of 38 mph at midnight. If you are in the Wears Valley or Walden's Creek areas please evacuate immediately. Elaine Brown, 81, died after she sustained a medical event that caused a multi-vehicle accident on Wears Valley Road while fleeing the fire. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new articles by email. WVLT News spoke to Red Cross officials Wednesday night to try and get answers, but they said the decision was in the hands of Sevier County EMA. 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. The Kings Academy at 202 Smothers Road, Seymour, TN, is open as a shelter for those evacuating. Evacuations are in effect. Pilot killed in helicopter crash was former wildland firefighter, Higher than average wildfire activity expected in Southern Plains and Southwest, April through June, Long bushfire season wears down firefighters in Queensland and Western Australia, Community near Heppner, Oregon first in Morrow County to earn Firewise designation, County Cork fire brigades work through the night on gorse fires, Renewed call for the Holy Grail of firefighter tracking, Hiker owes $300,000 for Arizona wildfire he started. 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. 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. The relative humidity rose from a low of 16 percent Wednesday afternoon to 92 percent at 6 a.m. Thursday. Flames erupted in a remote area with steep terrain that made access to the fire difficult for firefighters. Live Update (4:16 p.m.): WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson said the number of Firefighters in Sevier County said they were on level 4 alert of 5 for the threat of wildfires on Tuesday. Goodhue said the state trooper told him the neighborhood was being evacuated. 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. Joshua McGrath pic.twitter.com/MDhpiLIQ88, Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) March 30, 2022. In the meantime, at least three shelters were opened to accommodate those potentially displaced by the fires, according to county officials. 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. WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson said the number of affected structures was higher because of duplicate counts. pic.twitter.com/yysCq3tgIn Kaitlin Wright tweeted, Devastating video of the wildfire ongoing near the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee area. "My heart goes out to those (residents) who were displaced.". I stand behind the people who made decisions. 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. Despite the predictions, on Monday, Nov. 28, dry weather and extreme winds caused the fire to grow rapidly. Today is looking as if it could be our last day in Sevier county in support of the wild fire operations. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Remembering the Gatlinburg Wildfires five years later. The raw audio details harrowing escapes and the desperate pleas for help made by wildfire survivors when the flames approached homes and businesses. An Air Force veteran whose Pigeon Forge vacation cabin was completely destroyed in the recent East Tennessee wildfiressaid he plans to rebuild in time for his anticipated retirement. I know there are some folks who have been affected, and I hope that you will join me in saying a prayer for them, Parton said. The Sevier County Sevier County EMA officials also released a phone number for people to call with questions or information about areas affected by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire Thursday afternoon. Mayor Waters also said he would provide media with updates later in the afternoon, which WVLT will relay through the WVLT News App live. After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire. The website (mountaintough.org) manages information and donations. 3:03 PM EDT, Mon March 18, 2013. #tnwx #wildfire Propane tanks have been exploding, Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said Sunday. The family has been staying in a hotel and theyve been in touch with the Airbnb host, who is unaware about the status of the cabin, Frederick told CNN. 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. Helicopters have been dropping water on the fire since early Thursday morning. Watch as a helicopter collects water from pond to drop on a wildfire in Wears Valley. Deputies with the Sevier County Sheriffs Office originally We are predominately making efforts on the western line of the [Hatcher Mountain] fire, he said. Phase one will be a trial on duty and breach and will be applied to all parties involved. A fire at Pigeon Forge has been contained. There is no indication that there is any criminal aspect to the fire, Waters said. All manpower and resources from the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Fire departments were used to stop the blaze. Five fire rescue vehicles, including four county vehicles and one state vehicle, were damaged as a result of the fire, Waters said. 2023 Cable News Network. Red Cross officials confirmed the Pigeon Forge Community Center shelter will close at 2 p.m. Sunday. She added that she was in touch with people at Dollywood, Partons theme park in Pigeon Forge, and that everything is okay there.. The National Weather Service warned that the day was shaping up to bevery active, with a prolonged period of high winds coincidingwith dry vegetation to produce elevated fire danger levels. WebI would describe this as flooding in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Tennessee, but certainly heavy rain rising the water levels throughout. At least 35 buildings were burned Wednesday, and one person was airlifted to UT Medical Center, said Sevier County spokesman Perrin Anderson. Red Cross officials confirmed the Pigeon Forge Community Center shelter will close at 2 p.m. Sunday. It has been a brutal 24 hours in Pigeon Forge, TN. Lessons learned from 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire likely saved lives, Smokies fire comes at 'one of the worst times' for business owners, In light of Smokies fire in Wears Valley, track wildfires in Tennessee, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Fire officials also said that lessons learned in the 2016 Gatlinburg fires helped authorities respond to this weeks fire. Officials had warned early Wednesday that warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds increased the risk of fire danger. 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. Este hotel fica a 8,7 km de Dollywood e a 1 km de Island at Pigeon Forge.Sinta-se em casa em um de nossos 112 quartos com geladeiras e micro-ondas. Dozens of people gathered Wednesday afternoon ona nearby highway, anxiously assessing the status of a fire that erupted in the Wears Valley community. appreciated. Those in the area can check this map to see if they need to evacuate. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. Meanwhile, you could see the fire still glowing behind Pine Mountain in Wears Valley on Wednesday evening. #WearsValleyFire.. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The chopper dropping water had to be grounded. -Certification as a TN Fire Inspector I or ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment. Mandatory evacuation orders in the county, which includes Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, will remain in place, Waters said. All rights reserved. According to Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson, crews responded to a fire at the Red Roof Mall on 2828 Parkway Drive Monday around 2:05 p.m. Fire chief: The structure fire is currently under control. Updated: Mar 2, 2023 / 09:10 AM EST. Officials said that airdrops will continue Friday morning. Typos, let us know HERE, and specify which article. 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. The wind is making this fire very hard to manage.. 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. Hatcher Mountain Wildfire 100% contained, number of structures lowered due to duplicate counts. Earlier Wednesday, Sevier County warned of astrong storm system approaching the area, bringing damaging winds to the entire area. "As the fire breaks those containment lines, we are pulling back and readjusting, and putting in new lines. Ripley Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg evacuated all of its workers, reportedly leaving behind 10,518 animals. Sevier County officials began issuing mandatory evacuations around 4:30 p.m. They said people in the Hatcher Mountain, Shagbark Resort and Little Valley Mountain Resort should evacuate immediately. Several apparatus and a dozer lost on the Wears Valley fire; dozer operator burned and flown out. Responders said the concern is a lot lower today than yesterday, saying the weather is better for fighting it. Over 200 people and 70 agencies have been involved in the firefighting efforts, according to Waters. Officials said that several agencies responded to Cold Creek Resort around 10 p.m. Tuesday after a fire started in the laundry room. A Warner Bros. About 150 people were evacuated Sunday and the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Pigeon Forge Community Center. Another fire was reported in Anderson County at 3:35 p.m., with mutual aid requested for a brush fire. CNNs Melissa Alonso, Sara Smart and Chris Boyette contributed to this report. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - Dozens of Sevier County residents More evacuation orders followed, including one for the Black Bear Resort area and the great Waldens Creek and Wears Valley area. Multiple agencies responded to a large brush fire Wednesday morning that was threatening homes in the area. There are no reports of fatalities or missing people as a result of the blaze, Country superstar and East Tennessee native Dolly Parton created the My People Fund to help victims of the wildfires. About 11,000 homes have been evacuated since the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire began Wednesday, the mayor said. The fire also grew to around 3,700 acres, affecting over 100 structures and even five fire agency vehicles, Waters said. pic.twitter.com/E7i2IPTBFB. Waters also said TBI and Sevier County Sheriffs Office investigators are looking into what caused the fire. The delay caused stress for people already in a dire situation who were not able to plan where they would spend the night. Courthouse in Greeneville that is expected to last ten days. 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. The map below shows the evacuation area. The buckets suspend from the helicopter and contain valves on the bottom the crew can use to dispense water. Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, Morgan Wallen Celebrates the Release of One Thing at a Time with a Concert at His High School, Brush Fire in Pigeon Forge Forces Evacuations. Hudson said asschools closed due to the evacuations, children were bused to the evacuation center so parents could pick them up. The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. Responders have confirmed to WVLT News that the wildfire in Sevier County has grown to 1,000 acres and affected 35 structures. An internal investigation by then U.S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke found that the National Park Service was unprepared but not negligent. A Type 2 Incident Management Team, the Southern Area Gold Team, has been mobilized. Waters also gave an update on the Millstone Gap Fire, another fire in the Sevier County area. Have a phone thats charged and on and listen to the media.. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We can replace buildings and vehicles, but lives you cannot, he said. 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. https://bit.ly/3NyWklV. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. About half an inch of rainfall is expected early Thursday morning. Two incident management teams are on the scene, an interagency team and a state team. Multiple agencies responded to a large brush fire in the Wears Valley community Wednesday morning, according to the Sevier County Fire Department and the Tennessee Division of Forestry. The combination of the precipitation and the winds dying down is a big step in the right direction. Highway 321, Wears Valley Road, was closed to traffic from Townsend to Pigeon Forge due to 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. Web-Must reside in State of Tennessee no further than 30 road miles from the Pigeon Forge Fire Station #1 or Fire Station #2. While heading to his cabin, Duranstopped along the way to talk to Sevier County Fire Administrator David Puckett. Two helicopters moved overhead to dumpwater near several burning homes on the hillsideafter high winds and dry conditions sparked a brush fire and promptedan evacuation order for thearea. Duran currently lives in Coral Gables, Florida. More: https://bit.ly/38btpE5. If you are in need of shelter please come to 202 Smothers Road, Seymour, TN. 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. Officials originally predicted the affected acreage was 3,700 but they updated it to 2,675 burned acres, according to Assistant Sevier County Mayor for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson. Sevier County Fire Chief David Puckett said he was grateful for every responders response and hard work. WEARS VALLEY, Tenn. ( WATE) A wildfire near Pigeon Forge has While out in the field conducting fire assessments, Pucketthad bumped into a fire crew that was trying to locate the owner of an Americanflag and Air Force banner. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. -Maintenance of a current certification in CPR and First Aid. Residents can use it to search their address to find out if they need to evacuate. "We're currently putting in lines and doing structure protection," Smith said. Sevier County officials gave a major update just before 5 p.m. Thursday. Tony Ogle, a spokesperson for Sevier County Schools, said that Wearwood Elementary School evacuated its students to the Pigeon Forge Community Center due to the wildfires. Bradley Phillips, 59, was discovered at 412 Long Hollow Road. We have personnel going door to door, he said. Wind-fueled wildfires swept across Sevier County in 2016 claiming lives, homes and livelihoods forever changing the landscape of Gatlinburg and the Smokies. The shelter was open to families and pets. Red Cross officials confirmed the Pigeon Forge Community Center shelter will close at 2 p.m. Sunday. 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. Phase two is focused on causation and damages and will only be applied to a bellwether plaintiff which is someone who will be selected to represent the whole group. Just a few hours prior to the commercial structure fire, at 6:59 p.m. on SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) - Responders from several East Tennessee agencies are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County. PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WVLT) - An evacuation was ordered for The visuals of the fire are tough to view. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. Less than 1/10 inch of rain fell at that station and another at Pigeon Forge. As of Sunday afternoon, the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 98% contained and all affected areas are now open. I feel bad for them people.. Tennessee Forestry representative Bruce Miller gave a fire update, saying the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 95% contained. The fire spanned 30 to 40 acres. The U.S. Government through its employees, failed to follow mandatory regulations to monitor and extinguish a fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, thereby allowing it to spread beyond the park boundaries onto claimants private property, destroying their property and resulting in the death of his wife Constance and their daughters Chloe and Lily, court documents read. A temporary shelter is set up at the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive. I dont have a vehicle, and I have no way out of here. If you are unsure if you are in this area, you should evacuate. The high winds that took down the power lines to spark the fires also fueled the progression of the fires,"Agricultural Crime Unit Captain Greg Whitehead said. There are no reports of fatalities or missing people as a result of the blaze, Waters said, calling the news answered prayers.. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. Sevier County EMA officials took to Twitter late Thursday morning to give an update on damage assessment and donation plans. The second video shows fire crews working to save cabins in Sevier County as flames creep closer. Firefighters from across East Tennessee are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County as it continues to grow. Knox County Rescue crews were headed to Sevier County Saturday morning to assist in several capacities, including working in the EOC & an Incident Command Sub-Section, performing field damage assessment and search. https://bit.ly/3tV1vVs. A helicopter collects water from pond to drop on a wildfire in Wears Valley on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Residents can go to the Gatlinburg Convention Center or Pigeon Forge Community Center. Besides the well-being of homeowners and dwellings in the tourist Great Smoky Mountains destination, the biggest worries are clusters of fallen trees. Wears Valley Road is still closed from Waldens Creek to Valley View. WVLT News also spoke with Brook Smith, a forester at the scene, who said as nightfall nears the situation may improve some. You can type an address at the top-right on the page to see if it is affected. Sevier County dispatch told WVLT News that there was a two-mile evacuation from Parkside Resort near Little Cove Road and Pine Mountain Road. Those interested in helping can go to this website to arrange donations. Authorities did not release details about the other fatalities. Pigeon Forge Community Center located at 170 Community Center Drive is available as an evacuation center for persons displaced by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire. I'm just really hoping everybody came off the mountain.. The cause of the structure and brush fire were not known as of Thursday night, according to deputies. TEMA hasnt determined the cause of the fire. Waters also said that two firefighters suffered minor injures and were treated at the scene. In an effort to learn more, Knox News spoke to residents in the area about the brushfires happening once again in the Gatlinburg area.