Appalachian Mountain WIldfires

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/gatlinburg-neighborhood-voluntarily-evacuating-due-to-fire/357115866

Lots of info there plus videos.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency issued a level three state of emergency. TEMA said 30 structures are on fire, including a 16 story hotel on Regan Drive and the Driftwood Apartments in Gatlinburg. The wildfire is also at the edge of the Dollywood property.

Mandatory evacuations are in place in Gatlinburg in:

Downtown Gatlinburg

Ski Mountain

Mynatt Park

Cartertown Road

East Foothills

Westgate Community

I worked with some great folks a couple weeks ago on the Party Rock Fire in Lake Lure, NC. That one fire burned over 7K acres, but we were able to protect all the structures and no one was injured. Last I heard it was pretty much contained now. I don't know about the Banner Elk/Boone area. There was a fire front there, but best I have heard it is under control now. Several evacuations were done, especially for livestock, but I think everyone and everything has returned.

Did any of the Smoky Mtns camp sites get hit with the wildfires yet... Namely ELKMONT...

Been watching news from Gatlingburg and Pigeon Forge. I am thinking the fires are really bad in the Mountains just north of where DOLLYWOOD is located...

Heard they have been fighting alot of small forest fires in the area for weeks now... The storm front that is on top of them now had alot of wind embedded in them that created more havic...

Roy Ken