Appalachian Mountain WIldfires

[10forty2]

Western NC and Eastern Tennessee..... Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area specifically. Anyone that was there and had to evacuate? Thankfully, the area is getting some good rainfall over the next couple of days. Hope all of our RV members and families are safe!

[J-Rooster]

fpresto wrote:
Aircraft including helicopters or 747s are not going to put out a large fire. They will help with hotspots and small flare ups but that is about it. As 10forty2 said "only heavy rain or snow works on large fires". For example, according to the USGS Water Science School, one inch of rain on one square mile equals 17.38 million gallons of water. At 20,000 gallons per 747 I don't think there are enough 747s to matter much.

Thanks Ron for the update on the 747 tanker! fpresto I agree with your post, but that tanker with Calgum or Joy soap mixed in the load can save a house!

[theoldwizard1]

It appears that the southern side of the Smokies (Cherokee and further south) are okay.

[fpresto]

Aircraft including helicopters or 747s are not going to put out a large fire. They will help with hotspots and small flare ups but that is about it. As 10forty2 said "only heavy rain or snow works on large fires". For example, according to the USGS Water Science School, one inch of rain on one square mile equals 17.38 million gallons of water. At 20,000 gallons per 747 I don't think there are enough 747s to matter much.

[bzboy]

That 747 is based here in Colorado Springs.

[10forty2]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
Unless it has made it back home, the 747 was deployed to Israel to help with the wild fires there.747 tanker

Yep...that was the last location I saw of it. We had two helicopters flying constantly at the Party Rock Fire in Lake Lure....one 1,500gal tanker and one chopper with a 500gal bucket beneath, and one fixed-wing air tanker with 1,500gals. It sounds like a lot of water, but when you compare it to the size of the fire line, it's like pouring a glass of water on a house fire. The only way to fight a forest fire is to get ahead of it and cut in hand and dozer lines, then backfire the fuels that are on the ground. You never really extinguish a forest fire, you try to contain it and let it burn itself out. On large fires like these, it usually takes heavy rainfall and/or snow.

[rgatijnet1]

Unless it has made it back home, the 747 was deployed to Israel to help with the wild fires there.747 tanker

[J-Rooster]

I just looked it up the 747 aerial tanker drops 20,500 gallons from 500' in one drop! Evergreen is the air drop Company!

[J-Rooster]

Sorry to hear about those fires! The State or Feds ought to get ahold of that 747 water retardant drop tanker they have out west here to help smother those fires.

[coolmom42]

Up to date info HERE on a Knoxville TV station. Also check their Facebook page for some horrifying web-cam video of someone driving to evacuate.

GRSM is closed. The headquarters is without power/phone. The sign at Sugarlands is mostly burned up, I saw some pics last night.

[Two_Jayhawks]

We were in Sevierville for 10 days earlier this month. Weather was fantastic but horribly dry. Hardly saw a drop of rain the whole time I was a little concerned for the fire risk.

[Bill_Satellite]

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

[10forty2]

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.

[RoyB]

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