Wildfire leads to mandatory evacuations in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

By Brian Lada , AccuWeather meteorologist and staff writer

November 29,2016, 4:54:51PM,EST

 

 The entire town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, was ordered to evacuate as a wildfire spread over the region early this week.

The evacuation order was issued early on Monday night by the City of Gatlinburg, home to nearly 4,000 people.
In total, 14,000 residents and tourists evacuated the area.
On Tuesday afternoon, the mayor of Tennessee confirmed that there have been at least three fatalities and 14 injuries due to the wildfire.

Tennessee Highway Patrol

The wildfire forced Tennessee Ripley's Aquarium staff to evacuate, leaving over 10,000 animals behind. The aquarium announced all the animals were safe on Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Warner, more than 100 structures have been damaged in the city. A 16-story hotel was among the structures damaged.
Evacuations were also issued for parts of Pigeon Forge and in areas along the Spur and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The fire prompted officials to close and evacuate the Dollywood DreamMore Resort. As of early Tuesday morning, no structures in Dollywood have caught on fire.
As thousands left the town, flames roared nearby.

Tennessee Highway Patrol

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The fire also led to road and trail closures in parts of the Great Smoky National Park.
Schools in Sevier, Cocke and Greene counties announced that classes are canceled for Tuesday in wake of the wildfire.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency asked people to stay off cellular devices unless for emergency purposes as to unclog phone lines.
A light rain fell across the area earlier in the night, but was not enough to put out the flames. Additional rounds of rain will occur into Wednesday, which should help emergency crews to combat the fire.
"The rain will be very much welcomed and should help dampen any fires currently burning," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root said.
"Winds will continue to be rather gusty into Wednesday as the rain moves through with gusts up to 45 mph. Trees and power lines could still be blown down along with any burned and dead trees."