Alice Hagler was reported missing by her family and later confirmed dead. The Park Superintendent did not want to risk the lives of NPS fire crews with the Chimney Tops Fire 2; and that is to be respected. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. They probably feel they are fortunate and safe because they will not speak out on the topic until the criminal charges are completed against the two youth that perpetrated this fire but they would be foolish to do so as time just continues to churn the anger. We are still dealing but two of us or degree, the emotional loss of losing our beloved cabin but now we are in the rebuild mode. No evacuation orders issued- If I had gone to work that day my two sons would be dead. 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. We would best not be blind until that time is upon us, as then it will be too late. You can see in the leaf pattern around it how a strong gust pushed up against the side of the house. You may have a point regarding lawsuits, reported actions and actual actions. I have seen local hiking pictures that appear to show two separate smoke columns on Saturday 11/26. I felt it urgent to get out of the woods. It was also unbelievably dry. When we reached Turkey Nest Road there was a big white crewcab pickup truck parked in front of Barbaras Real Estate. We must change our minds first and then we must change our actions. A mandatory evacuation should have been issued, at the latest, Monday morning, with reverse 911 calls, as well as loudspeaker equipped vehicles. OnMonday, December 5, the Incident Management Team (IMT) on the Chimney Tops 2 Fire that burned from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) into the Gatlinburg area reported that it has caused the deaths of 14people. Bob and I had discussions about what we would do if we were to be surprised by wildfires up Beech Branch Road with no warning. Click here. Even Congressman from east TN and western NC need to here it. Im totally with you accountability. From 7 p.m. until midnight sustained winds were at 13 to 17 mph with gusts from 34 to 49. I told him I would call fire department in Gatlinburg across from Food City. How about that for arm chair quarter backing. Those are low numbers for the southeastern United States. Report: Gatlinburg fire caused $7 million in damages He asked them if they had any information on the fire and they told him Youve got nothing to worry about. By this time the wind was blowing hard and strong. Thanksgiving Day Global Supertanker 747 is responding to wild fires in Israel. Yes. I am positive that for anyone who gives of themselves to protect and serve will forever be haunted by that far more than anyone of us can expect to hold them accountable by lynching. There were and continue to be many deaths and fires that occurred in those western areas, and with those IMT expert Teams, that taught hard lessons, and enabled those people to gain experience and become the so called experts in the field. It is written by Stephanie Sweeney, whose house was off the Spur between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Lets look in the mirror before we are too quick to blame someone else. Those with information are urged to contact the Tennessee Arson Hotline at 1-800-762-3017 or the GFD at 865-436-5112. Anticipating the fire season, firefighting resources (people and equipment) were brought in from around the Southeast and other parts of the country. The report stated the roof started to collapse, and the building was deemed too unsafe to work inside. Anyone who has toured the hillsides where most of the homes that were destroyed would know immediately how difficult evacuations would be. The fire was reported to be near the Twin Creeks Picnic Center at 1130. I could not figure how to put pictures on Wildfire Today, so here are links to let you see whats happened in the Park. What Caused the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016? Here's the Real Story The diff. This come from long time residents, The prices we have been getting should be considered price gouging because that is exactly what it is. For reference, 600 or above would indicate severe drought andincreased wildfire occurrence. And not only they had time to evacuate but I called 911 Monday night on Nov. 28 2016 and ask if there was any evacuation orders for Gatlinburg and was told By The 911 operator no not at this time Later found out the whole place was on fire at the same time I called 911 ( WHY ) was I lied to ? I just hope, like Jeannine, that fire managers can learn from this tragedy because we really need the tool of prescribed fire in the tool box. People that I know said that not implementing fire suppression is exactly what they should have done, so we can agree to disagree. Former Gatlinburg fire chief reflects as new wildfires burn - WTVF By being so quick to lynch people we have created a fear of decision-making and a paralysis of critical thinking. I knew him when he was at Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore. is TEMA didnt have the training. Well I can say that if TEMA announced right now and emergency message to my cell phone in the east TN mountains I would never get a thing. The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. at the mall on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg. On Oct. 9, a woman who was working at the Ripleys Aquarium smelled smoke and walked up to 745 Parkway Suite 4 to investigate. This year has been crazy, with so many fires happening in Autumn. These breaks downs undoubtedly show shortcomings by officials. It works like an Amber Alert to people who download the app and sign up. That is when it would have been prudent to announce a pre-evacuation notice for the Gatlinburg area to be ready to evacuate if an evacuation order is announced. Person killed in downtown Gatlinburg fire identified. Lose their jobs over this? I learned so much from the Incident Management Team websites for the various big fires in the mountains (Cohuttas, Joyce Kilmer, Standing Indian, Boteler, Tellico, Party Rock, Pinnacle Mountain). It was Congress that adjourned for the holidays without passing a bill to fund forest fire fighting efforts. May all the people find peace and forgiveness in the midst of this storm. etc. ), lack of knowledge of alternative communication systems (the Motorola area wide emergency radio system installed last year). While my husband tried to rake the leaves away more than once, they blew right back in. Fires in the Great. This is a text book example of waiting for rain and not planning for WHAT IF! Neddo said total shock is the only way to describe how he feels. Visibility was so low that other car lights could barely be seen from oncoming cars. At this time, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials were contacted, according to the report. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) Firefighters have found a body in the remains of a building that burned in . Now I am tasked with trying to motivate and coordinate the local fire departments much of who are volunteer, the state and national forest professionals to work with me and the community. What caused the Gatlinburg wildfire? Brian Blanco/Getty. I think this is more often than not the case. The helicopter worked until it had to refuel and then two other Type 1 helicopters took its placeuntil dark. At 3:00PM I convinced my husband to call the Gatlinburg Fire Dept. Guessing the fire spotted from the Chimneys, to Bullhead, then on to Twin Creeks area. It took the governor to get the lack of evac into the open, as local gov was trying to keep it out of the press. There are hundreds of hemlock skeletons heading north from Chimney Rock. China Bazaar, Pucker's Sports Grill, Gifts of . I think wildland fire managers should be commended that this fire did not result in a tragic firefighter incident like Yarnell Hills. The fire occurred in the Autumn after the deciduous trees had shed their leaves adding more fuel to the forest floor that was already abundant with desiccated leaves, twigs, dead branches, and logs that had been sucked dry of their moisture by the months of drought. Approximately 14,000 residents were originally forced to evacuate. The truck was filled with firefighters. Jim Renfro, the air quality specialist for GRSM, said the strongest wind gust recorded at Cove Mountain was 87 mph at 9 p.m. on Monday. It is my understanding this first fire was at or near the summit in the immediate vicinity of the 2nd fire which unfortunately devastated Gatlinburg. Rain began falling late Monday night and continued until 6 a.m. Tuesday, totaling 0.78 inch at Indian Grave. Published: Dec. 24, 2022 at 10:17 AM PST GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and. Gatlinburg businesses look to rebuild after massive fire. There will be legal repercussions because of incompetence. On Sunday when GSMNP called in helicopter water drops, there were 3 fire tanker planes sitting on the runway 20 minutes away in Chattanooga (covered in Wildfire Today). Though Im missing the boat a little here, my questioning is still legitimate being that any managed ignited fire can still get out of control adding to an existing wildfire or creating one. Its community and people that have jobs. This should not be a time to blame and inflame, but to think and act wisely. At any rate, I have not heard any knowledgeable person say acquiring resources during those first five days was a major difficulty. I can only hope that the actions are being undertaken somewhere and by the decision-makers and leaders to think and act differently. What were the emergency managers of this county doing/thinking at this time? The winds were getting stronger. If Knox media wanted to go after the NPS or someone else wanted them to, it is possible that even their timeline and investigation is slanted. The public cannot sit on their hands and expect anything to change. 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. Love your neighbors, yes. Just the mechanics of this devastating wildfire without any editorial comments. People died and lost so much and that is absolutely tragic! Perhaps a simple thing like calling for a Voluntary Evacuation from Noon on that day could have made the danger more obvious in light of the forecast for storm warnings with high winds for the afternoon and overnight. At the big forest fires in NC and GA, where the federal incident management teams were located, the Incident teams ordered pre-evacuation prior to the arrival of a cold front when strong, gusty winds were forecast. Read more Tennessee Wildfire Cause: Gatlinburg Fires May Have Been Man-Made, Officials Claim is an article from: The Inquisitr News. I had these thoughts: if fire spreads from Chimney Tops and starts coming towards Gatlinburg, people are going to be getting gas and getting out. No warnings of spreading fire, just radar and high wind warnings. These people both the successful along with the ones who erred and experienced failure, courageously risked being vulnerable in order to help others. As we drove in the smoke was no better than it had been when we left cabin, it was worse. Ive been told by others that they were waiting for the rain to move in based on the forecast and it didnt arrive when they expected so in the meantime they did nothing. Even so, is it risky to ignite backfire with such extreme fire conditions? We need to hold, that experience though often shared, does not fit into every mold, because in the real world though some laws are universal, there is always changing variable and situations are never really exactly the same. This fire was a terrible tragedy and would require tremendous foresight on the part of such people to have kept people from harm and property from destruction, in this case, because people needed to be aware of the likelihood of the imminent danger they were facing if they stayed in Gatlinburg on Monday evening and overnight. OF COURSE the dead hemlocks (and spruces and firs) are changing the picture for fire danger. Sunset that day was at 5:21 p.m. which would have allowed them to drop on the fire until 5:51 p.m., 30 minutes after sunset. I have my own opinion on what I would do if I ruled the world but I can guarantee you two people that would be looking for work very soon . China Bazaar, Puckers Sports Bar, Cafe 420,. Sevier County remains Smokies Strong 5 years after wildfires - WBIR.com I wonder why? I would suggest that you read over Bills articles on this site regarding NPS releases information about the Chimney Tops Fire 2 and Analysis of wind, vegetation, and air tankers before the fire burned into Gatlinburg. 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. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - Four downtown Gatlinburg businesses are picking up the pieces after a fire Sunday morning destroyed their building. Another example from my own experience which has been rocked by bias and blatant failure to receive appropriate support and assistance when asked for; causing issues to occur that were later simply blown way out of proportion with conspired lies in order to protect and cover up the real underlying issues and people. I began picking up news stories of the fire in Gatlinburg from as the storm rolled east. Im not saying GRSM made the right or wrong decision, there is just a lot more involved then saying they didnt suppress it promptly. I responded that the climate is changing, and so are other related situations, and there will be. He yelled at Bates to get out, and Bates did leave before coming back without the worker knowing. The Seiver County Medical Examiner's office identified the man as 54-year-old Joe Martin Bates, according to the City of Gatlinburg. This is just one more example of one more related issue that is seemingly un-connected until you delve into the issues deeply. Conspiracy, no. I get free speech, but if I yelled fire in a crowded theater when there was none and it contributed to death and injury I too would be held liable; my speech would not be protected! There are other variables that are of concern here too, such as area resources that are already low and being taxed by the sheer number of fires occurring in the region, the growth of urban interface among the eastern forests, rugged mountainous terrain and economic restraints. On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9. He actually wrote me back on Christmas Eve, of all things, to tell me that they will keep after it. I told her when she does mine about my rebuild and my crooked contractor I will speak plenty about the ineptness of the NPS and local fire officials. California couple whose gender-reveal party sparked a wildfire charged 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. I stopped him and said, Stanton, weve got to calm down and go slowly getting out of here so that we dont scare Abram and so that we can drive safely. When peoples towns and lives are at stake, letting a fire burn or hoping to get lucky is a tough sell. So whether the defendants started the 14th fire or not, a close examination of this Facebook press release indicates the fire apparently started on the 13th; and yet a social media photo post claims the 12th clearly showing a lack of response once again in fire suppression by the NPS. I bet someone of you one here would sing a different tune if you loss a big chunk of your retirement because of someone incompetence. Too often the only voice that is heard in our society is money and the more one has the more they are heard. You forgot lack of funding to adequately staff the park. He had been experiencing the high winds back West all day and was alarmed at possibilities as well. Unfortunately human lives were lost and hundreds of folks have been displaced. Though it will never be heard in our courts today, dont think the Almighty isnt going to bring it to Light; for human death was involved and the facts were dodged plan and simple. Travelers are urged to avoid the area at this time. Our house was in a direct N/S line from the Chimneys. Tennessee wildfire near Gatlinburg prompts evacuations of 11,000 homes Gatlinburg Fire Cause: Who Started the Wildfire? | Heavy.com The leaves that had hung on into late Fall because of lack of winds and rain for months began to rain from the trees in copious amounts and there were leaf funnels forming and it was hard as we ran from cabin to car loading Abram and Lady. Floods, tornadoes, severe storms, wildfires, mudslides, hurricanes, what else?, all present risks to humans and their property which require different degrees of political management and oversight in our various muncipalities to keep us safe or to help us recover if we suffer consequences when we arent kept safe. Circular holes in the ground spread around the forest floor for no apparent reason, no evidence in sight, no history of mining activity, most of the oldest living trees around the same height/age. and last updated 4:48 AM, Apr 05, 2022. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates. Great info/synopsis of the Gatlinburg/Sevier county wildfires. The status of individual structures in the Gatlinburg area can be found at arcgiscom. Published: Dec. 24, 2022 at 10:17 AM PST GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and injured another. Difficult access to safely fight fire, lack of pre-blow up fire management, and extreme drought capped off by an exceptional weather event led to the July 1st, 1998 Farmton firestorm that burned through the rural community where I lived in east central Florida.

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