Above: The Drought Monitor issued November 29 showed Exceptional Drought, the highest category, for the Gatlinburg area and large sections of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Behind the Chimneys is Sugarland Mountain. This rain took much of the heat out of the vegetation fire and slowed the spread, but smoke from the burning structures in the communities and smouldering logs in the Park continued to fill the air. It is to be considered, but verified by other means. A lot of chainsawing has been going on. There are a lot of excellent experienced fire management staff working for the Park Service. Thats totally untrue. From 7 p.m. until midnight sustained winds were at 13 to 17 mph with gusts from 34 to 49. Click here. I visited Gatlinburg on a trip to Asheville NC, in 1980. Often times in seeking to take out a person, the real root causes go unaddressed, and sometimes that includes some people taking the fall for decisions of others that were major contributing factors. with a notice that evacuation is imminent would have been prudent. I could not figure how to put pictures on Wildfire Today, so here are links to let you see whats happened in the Park. Shortly after that power was lost to the station and data stopped being recorded. Experience must be coupled with training and planning based on forecasted possibilities and even un-forecasted what ifs. Not sure on how the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid infects our truly awesome and beautiful Hemlocks, but I do know that the Balsam Wooly Adelgid, the non-native insect that has helped to lay waste to the equally magnificent Fraser Fir forests such as found on the highest peaks Clingmans Dome, Mt. It would be interesting to dig a little further on this. I would rather have someone on the job who has screwed up, erred and learned from the experience as I know that the chances of a repeat performance are lessened and for most learners they will progress forward with even better decision making skills. I called Bob, boys and I got a bite to eat for supper so we wouldnt be a bother to our friends whose house we were going to wait out the evening. The fire did not get up the valley to the Alum Cave Parking Lot, and LeConte Lodge is fine. Chief Kurtz was right on target to compare South Canyon, Yarnell, and now Chimney Top 2. The Spur between Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg is open from Pigeon Forge to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center. I was struck by the daunting task of creating a viable fire-prevention plan in that area of constant tourist turnover, and the way it is laid-out. Why? because poor, inadequate human decision making allowing basic fire physics, fire chemistry and TIME to align resulting in avoidable death and destruction! I know that because of my experience, my training, my ongoing learning and situational awareness of a host of related and seemingly unrelated knowledge. Someone must have started the fire. Virtually no one knows they have it and THEY DID NOT USE IT. Just a quick comment per above posts. In turn, the IMT teams greatly appreciated the community support given by the effected areas, such as throwing a free Thanksgiving dinner for the thousands of fire fighters far away from their families. U.S. Park Service (again) and Thanksgiving. Any time our community suffers a great loss or devastation like this, it impacts everybody, she said. Will it change what has happened? That doesnt mean excessive chainsaw mania; but it doesnt mean going to the other extreme with the type of forestry management in some of our Parks and other public lands. This fire as did others around this time had highly predictable potential for massive and rapid spread. What really was going on here? I was in the area hiking November 21 and there was no smoke coming from the Chimneys area. Jeannines comments were spot on. SOURCE Like this: Loading. The official cause is down power lines due to high winds and fallen trees, according to a National Park Service news release. Mother nature always bats last Sad chain of eventsonce again. When I arrived in Branson at the hotel I was close to a fire exit, and frankly forgot about my nightmare. Not everything that happened with the fires had a dotted line to those two teens. Our forest service guys have been very busy with hand efforts, running dozers in our hazardous terrain and with aircraft. 1 dead in Anchorage home fire that officials say was likely caused by I told him my home was on fire and he said they were evacuating everyone,then. Yes, there is backside-covering going on. Gatlinburg fire: Body found in blaze rubble, cause of fire under Thank you for your kind words and concern about our loss. I understand the excellent point made in the article that history in the Smokies area would expect less of a problem than out West. I am here at the opportunity on a couple of occasions to speak to the Fire Chief of Ontario Michigan. Some of the seemingly inexplicable burn patterns are due to the wind driven nature. People were ready to leave their home in 15 min. They are just as clandestine of a secret society as the city officials of Gatlinburg and Sevier County. if/when evacuation notice was given. Yet today June 5th, Sevier County still has their infamous gag order in effect more than 6 months later in the interests of prosecuting the trial of the murdurous kids. Some may be pines, but the vast majority appear to be hemlocks. Many times this tactic takes commitment of over a week. The governor needs to hear that, as well. This story Im telling is all factual you see I have a problem with anyone exaggerating events as well as lying so I tell the truth regardless of how unpopular it may be. I hope that the firefighters, leaders, and authorities in this area make sure to perform in depth After Action Reviews and make changes to avoid these issues in the future. Tommy Kirkland says: I repeat The NPS and the Fire Chief of Gatlinburg should have started fighting the Chimney Tops 2 fire aggressively the day it was discovered. Typically instead of outright termination, the NPS is classic just to relocate the personnel and in some cases give them a promotion to keep them happy and from whistle-blowing; or just live in a delusional world of denial. The lines between reality and virtual reality or fake reality are so blurred. On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9. This is how the devastating Gatlinburg wildfire erupted overnight However, I still wonder why there has been no word from the governor about the post-fire review team he promised. We do have insurance however based on the prices for clean up there it wont go far enough to build back. Of course, the city of Why were there so many wildfires being lit by arsonists all of a sudden this year? One Person Dead After Downtown Gatlinburg Fire Sunday Tennessee Wildfire Cause: Gatlinburg Fires May Have Been Man-Made . Humans will never be able to control or suppress all unwanted fires-structure, chemical or wildland. Authorities have not identified the victim or . An expert, a hero or success is the one who takes a vulnerable risk at making a decision and by grace the outcome is positive, by contrast is the person who makes similar vulnerable risk in decision-making and by grace the outcome is negative. How did all the downtown businesses know to close and send their employees home, but not one word of warning was given to homeowners/residents? A true lackadaisical response. The leafless trees allowed more sunlight to hit the fuel, drying it out even more. Corker and Alexander know what would happen if they tried to interfere with a Federal prosecution! Where is his accountability? Deciding to keep air resources in reserve for initial attack on new starts rather than wash the fire off chimney tops was a good decision. Nearly five years. This is the way to honor each other and to learn. Civilians are dead, millions of dollars of personal property destroyed, millions of dollars were spent on containing the wildfirethe rains/snow finally suppressed it. I felt like people had been robbed of the vital information they needed to make the decisions they needed to be safe. Tough questions like, Why did it take so long for community leaders to activate burn bans in spite of the extreme drought conditions, fuel loads, number of arson fires and the regional outbreak of fires, the social nature of this crime, and other related events. The learning system of resolution. What is these adults had taken immediate action to correct and intervene in this unsafe behavior by children. When I crawled my way up Pinecrest Drive to Wiley Oakley through dense smoke, I saw a Gatlinburg pumper at the top of the hill. People that I know said that not implementing fire suppression is exactly what they should have done, so we can agree to disagree. The decisions that worked made us heroes, and those that did not changed us if we were allowed that opportunity. After the fact they called in helicopters to dump water on the fire which is what they should have done in the first place and didnt, WHY NOT? GSMNP Facebook has pulled comments, photos, and replies as well in regard to the 14th fire. Local folks here who have been involved with Park issues have an old saying about the NPS and their mismanagement of historic structures. But any land manager that expects to allow active spreading fire behavior for weeks or months is knowingly taking a risk that a wind event unpredictable weeks or months in advance will occur and change everything, sometimes with a very undesirable outcome. They were in their driveway with a water hose. We checked the Spot Weather Forecasts that were requested by the NPS and issued by the NWS for the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. The one picture showing a PVC clean-out with charring on it is a very good example of a very fast, hot torch of flame blasting a relatively small area. Flies north of fire (s) in TN. I parked truck right beside a big mound of rip rap that Bob had dumped for lining the ditches on sides of our neighborhood roads, which arent through roads. It caused a shutdown . China Bazaar, Pucker's Sports Grill, Gifts of Gatlinburg, and Caf 420 were all deemed a complete loss. Rippetoe hopes the destruction isnt there much longer and all businesses lost can return. It is unfortunate that in our society people who speak out with a loud voice, or otherwise make waves for the privileged, get not only scorned but categorically destroyed by well planned out and financed design, often full of cover-up and lies and then propaganda is feed to the rest of us, of which we often take for gospel, when in fact is often not based on evidence or fact. Collaboration, open thinking and creativeness are key. Bob had stayed in West TN after Thanksgiving, to work there for a few days before returning home so he wasnt with us. 2 min read. Question, seek truth and evidence, get to the roots, with the intention to create and apply solutions, not simply hang someone; that is how we grow forward! Just like the Mayor of Amity in Jaws, they didnt want the tourists to see this much reality. I have wanted to learn because I dont know enough to say much, but when I read your two posts about the loss of your cabin, and your escape, I felt I had to say, Im so sorry, to you, and probably speak for many many others who did not find this blog and find an avenue to learn, listen and to speak. Tennessee wildfire near Gatlinburg prompts evacuations of 11,000 homes The fire ballooned to more than 17,000 acres when winds stronger than 80 miles per hour carried the fire down the mountain and through Gatlinburg and parts of Pigeon Forge Nov. 28. What caused the Gatlinburg wildfire? Im surprised Cherokee Orchard Rd. Hit it with all you have the Moment it breaks out.. Though once high winds hit, given the conditions there was no stopping the fire from destroying property. Were here to rally and support those people until they can get back up on their feet, said Laura Rippetoe of the Gatlinburg Inn. Learning for the future is important if it includes changes in policy and procedure. Travelers are urged to avoid the area at this time. Council will utilize the 100s of wildfire experts testimony that the forresty service and local fire chief should have thrown everything they had at the Chimney 2 blaze the day it happened and everyone and every resource they could use from out of state that could get there within 24 hours. My questions are: what were the wind speeds when NPS crews ignited these backfires to protect NPS structures; and if they ignited fire on the 28th when the winds were getting stronger and stronger, would the potential exist for backfire embers to get out of control? Brush fires spread across multiple counties this afternoon in Southwest Florida due to high winds. A massive wildfire in the Tennessee resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge has destroyed more than 150 structures, including homes and businesses, authorities said Tuesday. I can tell you that within the week prior to this fire in the Greenbriar section of the GSMNP, I hiked on trails rustling through leaf litter that came up to my mid shins. If you take a hands off approach with minimal management and indirectly Play God look out. Just like the mayor of Amity in Jaws, they were not about to evacuate the entire city on Thanksgiving weekend. A friend that owns a rental company there said that about 90% of the homes in the area which leave them 10% they can rent or sale. All downtown sidewalks reopened as permanent fencing around the building was installed by the property owner following the fire. Suggestion, contact Dolly Parton or representatives of her holdings and give her (them) the emergency phone line to Global Supertankers. If you had transposed the same fire with similar conditions to California or Idaho would it have been managed the same way? Location field must contain 'city, state' or a zip code to perform a radius search (e.g., Denver, CO or 46122).City and state must be separated by a comma followed by a space (e.g., Houston, TX) I had concerns about traffic once we got down there. This data from Indian Grave was not too far offthe forecast issued the day before. Birmingham City close training ground after fire causes damage The multiple chain of events you refer to is also simple, two juvenile delinquents set the fire, the park service knew it existed and they did absolutely nothing to put it out. Waited a month to report this event and turn over the pictures they took to forestry officials! As we reached the Parkway, everything was deserted. People responsible during the initial stages of the Chimney Top 2 wildfire need to be held accountable for violating these basic rules of fire physicsperiod. I knew high winds were predicted for Gatlinburg by watching the weather channel. We stopped at another neighbors house. This is from previous questioning of mine from another Wildfire Today article: Team to Begin Chimney Tops 2 Fire: I appreciate your more thorough break down of backfire. This openness which allows for both expression of feeling and diversity of thought and ideas will be what drives our ability to fix the complex issues we are faced with, and to grow as human individuals, groups and nations. The Spur or US 441 runs between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in the Smokies. It is interesting, though not a surprise that when so many diverse experts from across the country and sometimes other countries come with diversity of experience, backgrounds, and training; all come together to handle a disastrous incident, such as this, they do so and often are quite successful. I thought if we were have to leave we could take both vehicles to our friends house to sit out the night. We could smell smoke from the fires in NC for a month before the fire began on Chimney Tops. Deputy Park Superintendent Jordan Clayton said the initial fire on an area called Chimney Tops, a double peaked ridge line about 4 miles away from Gatlinburg, was caused by a person or. Great info/synopsis of the Gatlinburg/Sevier county wildfires. We have also come upon many campfires that tent campers and others thought or extinguished but were back to a full burn with not adequate fire breaking around it. time. Damage was estimated at more than $500 million, according to Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. Body found in rubble of Gatlinburg fire - wtvq.com It is no wonder that the people do not trust Government. Ive posted this type of questioning on other Wildfire Today articles. That seems to be confirmation that the fire had crossed 441 early in the day. You do not hang your child or throw them out for, with good intention making the wrong choices, you teach them and help them to understand the consequences. In response to Jeanne in regard to Kelly Morgans comments: It is the duty of the American people to honor and respect and obey the Laws of the Land unless government becomes a dictatorship to basic rights and freedoms. I remember a news A day or so later where that fire chief of the Gatlinburg stated that they knew on Sunday that it was predicted the fire would hit Gatlinburg proper by 11 AM on Tuesday morning. ), lack of knowledge of alternative communication systems (the Motorola area wide emergency radio system installed last year). Digression from Comment Thread Wednesday, November 23, the day the fire started. The lawsuits from an event like Gatlinburg could go on for decades. That is when I said to myself Where the hell is TEMA?. There may be some validity in the DA doing that, but it sure calls their integrity into question. I feel sad for everyone involved. When one seriously examines the events, these lives could have been spared despite the power of fire and wind. Breathing between car and house was hard. Not committing firefighters to direct attack in a steep very hard to access high risk area was a good decision. On November 23 when the fire was discovered the KBDI was 599, Molly Schroer, a spokesperson for the IMT told us. All the guy in the truck told us was that they had dug a fire line and were told to wait here. Then another large red pickup came down from Turkey Nest Road and stopped in front of us. We believed the firefighters were going to stop the fire from entering the city. Personally, I have already started reconstruction on my cabin but the consensus on Chalet Village north which was 540 cabins and now stands only at 20 remaining Is that about 70% are not rebuilding for a variety of reasons . Most excellently put, Jeannine (you are an exceptional writer). The two juveniles who set a fire are not alone in this. I found this blog and am so grateful to have an opportunity to reply and also to become informed from experienced, caring people of service in the firefighting effort. LeConte, is spread primarily, if not exclusively through the air.Though I havent been there in awhile, there used to be a stunning grove of Hemlocks in the Linville Falls area off the Parkway approx. (Originally published at 11:04 a.m. MST November 23 . According to Public Information Officer Seth Butler, the Gatlinburg Fire Department and the Pigeon Forge Fire Department were dispatched to downtown Gatlinburg at 6:39 a.m. on Sunday, Oct.. Have a wildland fire news tip? 6 to the intersection at Reagen Drive reopened Monday afternoon after being closed Sunday morning, according to a release. The Chimney Tops fire was a wildfire being monitored given limited resources initially because of the many other ongoing fires in the region to which fire-fighting resources were committed. Who allowed this to happen? Officials keep repeating that nothing like this has ever happened here before so they cant be responsible. The Incident Management Teams fighting fires in GA and NC gave pre-evac notices for people within 10 miles of the fire line each time a cold front with high winds approached. This would explain why they are all covering for each other. Alice Hagler, who went missing at Chalet Village, was identified Wednesday night by her son Lyle Wood, who said his mother's body had been found "in the ruins of her home, her life taken by a.

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