The chopper dropping water had to be grounded. Meanwhile, you could see the fire still glowing behind Pine Mountain in Wears Valley on Wednesday evening. One video shows firefighters escaping as flames jump at them, propelled by high winds. The wildfires touched over 1,000 acres. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire, according to officials with the Sevier County Dispatch. The wildfires touched over 1,000 acres. The area was under a high-wind warning overnight and while winds slowed during the day Thursday, the National Weather Service said wind gusts up to 30 mph were expected through the evening, with more powerful gusts possible in some locations. Just a few hours prior to the commercial structure fire, at 6:59 p.m. on They said they are working on creating a list of donation drop-off points, but until those are released asked people to not donate. A no-fly restriction remains for the public for Wears Valley and Chilhowee Mountain through April 7, according to a release. The area is home to rental cabins with some permanent residences. Miller confirmed that his crews were in the mop up phase, primarily checking hotspots that could restart parts of the fire. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire, according to officials with the Sevier County Dispatch. Sevier County officials gave an official update on the wildfire fight in Sevier County Saturday afternoon. Officials said that airdrops will continue Friday morning. According to Sevier County Emergency Management, after visiting the website with the above evacuation map, users cantype their address into the window to see if they are within the evacuation area. I dont have a vehicle, and I have no way out of here. As of 4:30 p.m., forestry officials also reported one resident was injured and was airlifted out of the area to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. A wildfire near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee has spread to nearly 4,000 acres as of Thursday morning and is only5% contained, according toSevier County Mayor Larry Waters. When asked about what the fight has been like on the scene, Mayor Waters said he appreciated the professionalism and organization of responders from the beginning, 11 a.m. Wednesday. Officials later said that they believed the structure fire was later a separate fire, not related to the Pine Mountain Fire. Flying over Wears Valley pic.twitter.com/H7KQbUep14, Pete Michaels Traffic (@MetroSkyWatch) March 31, 2022. Hatcher Mountain Wildfire 100% contained, number of structures lowered due to duplicate counts. https://bit.ly/3NyWklV. Officials had warned early Wednesday that warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds increased the risk of fire danger. The injured person was reportedly taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center via airlift. On Thursday, things expect to be different. #tnwx #wildfire Emma Frederick and her family, who were staying at an Airbnb rental in Sevier County for the week, received an alert about the evacuations Wednesday afternoon when they were out, and were unable to retrieve their belongings from the cabin. NEW: Rain helps put out most of wildfire near resort town in eastern Tennessee, NEW: Firefighters have been able to leave, as just a few hot spots remain, About 20 fire departments had been battling the blaze, which started Sunday as a house fire, Fire charred more than 35 buildings, turned propane tanks into shrapnel. Its UTV was been requested, officials posted. Officials with the City of Gatlinburg and Sevier County released heartbreaking 911 calls made prior to and during the deadly wildfires. The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. Two helicopters left McGhee Tyson Air National Base with Bambi Buckets around 8 a.m., Director of Joint Public Affairs Darrin Haas said. We want to especially thank our partner Knoxville Area Transit for providing us a ride! pic.twitter.com/VU3I6B4zLs. The order now includes Dripping Springs Road; Dykes Road, West Lewelling, Reagan Circle, and Lela Way. The fire was 30 to 40 acres and was 100% contained by Friday afternoon. All rights reserved. Local agencies incurred more than $3 millionof expenses, Anderson added. While heading to his cabin, Duranstopped along the way to talk to Sevier County Fire Administrator David Puckett. Evacuations are in effect. Sevier County Emergency Management Agency shared the following roads are closed to the public at this time: Sevier County Schools officials announced Thursday afternoon that school would be cancelled Friday, April 1 due to the ongoing effects of the Hatcher Mountain Fire. The blaze is in the Wears Valley community of Sevier County six miles northwest of Gatlinburg. "At this time, the high winds are anticipated to affect primarily the Tennessee side of the park," the park wrote on its Facebook page. The American Red Cross is asking people who are planning to come to an evacuating center to bring bedding (such as pillows) and prescribed medications with them to help make their stay more comfortable, the agency said in a tweet. "Fire at the Red Roof Mall in Pigeon Forge. " PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (WATE) Id just like to say I appreciate the outpouring of support, said the Sevier County Fire Administrator David Puckett. For the brothers, the My People Fund helped them get back on their feet. He wrote, Looking West just now from Gatlinburg Golf course (in Pigeon Forge). Goodhue called the situation heartbreaking. Dozens of people gathered Wednesday afternoon ona nearby highway, anxiously assessing the status of a fire that erupted in the Wears Valley community. Red Cross officials confirmed the Pigeon Forge Community Center shelter will close at 2 p.m. Sunday. Crews spent Thursday through Saturday working to establish a containment area lower down the mountain. All rights reserved. CNNs Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report. At 9 a.m. Thursday the wind at Cove Mountain was 21 mph from the south-southwest with 81 percent RH. )Please call 911 for EMERGENCIES ONLY. Seymour Heights Christian Church, located at 122 Boyds Creek Highway, is opening its doors to anyone displaced by the fire. Joshua McGrath pic.twitter.com/MDhpiLIQ88, Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) March 30, 2022. Firefighting efforts fully contained thefire by April 5. She told the dispatcher, The fire is next door to my house My husband is not home. The delay caused stress for people already in a dire situation who were not able to plan where they would spend the night. They were staying in Chalet Village on Crooked Ridge Road. A temporary shelter is set up at the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive. At about 6 p.m. the department said it had burned approximately 250 acres. Live Update (4:16 p.m.): WVLT News spoke with the Sevier County Assistant for Governmental Affairs Perrin Anderson said the number of This could lead to significant fire spread toward the northeast before the showers begin. Ripley Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg evacuated all of its workers, reportedly leaving behind 10,518 animals. This means the fire is more unaccusable. Waters also said that two firefighters suffered minor injures and were treated at the scene. A temporary shelter is set up at the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive. Duran was wearing a veteran's hat and mentioned his military service, he said. As of 8:30 p.m., the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire was approximately 1,000 acres in size and had affected 35 structures. Duran said the actions of a fire crew who took the time to rescue his American flag and Air Force banner were "a light at the end of the tunnel" for him as he assessedthe damageto his retreat in Shagbark Resort. WVLT News spoke to Red Cross officials Wednesday night to try and get answers, but they said the decision was in the hands of Sevier County EMA. It could be 1 to 3 oclock right, could be all night. Sevier County dispatch told WVLT News that there was a two-mile evacuation from Parkside Resort near Little Cove Road and Pine Mountain Road. Tennessee Forestry representative Bruce Miller gave a fire update, saying the Hatcher Mountain Fire is 95% contained. The Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire that startedMarch 30 burned nearly 2,500 acres, damaging 219 structures and destroying 130 of those. Due to Fire personnel from all over the state have poured in to assist, Waters said, thanking fire and forestry crews who have been working to extinguish the blaze. The blaze is being pushed by strong winds. We hope that everyone has a good spring break, officials said. Flames erupted in a remote area with steep terrain that made access to the fire difficult for firefighters. The National Weather Services spot weather forecast for the incident predicts that a line of showers will move into the fire area bringing about half an inch of precipitation between 3 and 6 a.m. However, due to the extreme nature of the wind continued to be a problem for the area. You can type an address at the top-right on the page to see if it is affected. 2023 Cable News Network. If it keeps going, we already know well be here as long as we need, Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said. Everybody took it very seriously because of what happened, he said. Officials have not determined a cause, and evacuations are still in place. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer stated the National Park Service failed to notify park neighbors, visitors, and local residents of all planned and unplanned fire management activities that had the potential to impact them. The fires caused more than $66 million in damages in Sevier County, according to early estimates. Firefighters from across East Tennessee are on the scene of a major wildfire in Sevier County as it continues to grow. We are confident we have this fire in good check, he said. It wasnt until Dec. 13, 21 days after the fire started that the Sevier County Mayor announced that all fires in the city and the park were extinguished. WebI would describe this as flooding in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Tennessee, but certainly heavy rain rising the water levels throughout. Residents and visitors needing general information, or having information to provide, on areas affected by the Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane Fire may call 865-774-3899. An evacuation was ordered for anyone within two miles from Parkside Resort in Pigeon Forge due to a fast-moving brush fire. Our response was challenged due to loss of internet and cell service. Posted: Mar 2, 2023 / 06:41 AM EST. Well thankfully a church has got us a hotel room located for the night, Chris Clemmons said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much When asked how he felt personally, Waters said he felt nervous and asked for prayers. EMA personnel also asked that people do not drop off donations at this time.