Whitwell fire spreads, wildfire danger extreme today

UPDATES:

Nov. 20. 11:54 AM

News 12 has spoken with Marion County emergency officials to gain more insight into the Whitwell Mountain wildfire.

According to Marion County EMA Director Steve Lamb, 125 acres have burned on the mountain so far.

They are currently unsure what caused the blaze.

The mountaintop resort, Bolt Farm Treehouse, has evacuated all guests, according to Lamb. So far, this is the only evacuation due to this fire.

The Tennessee National Guard has brought a helicopter to help drop water on the flames, at the request of Tennessee Forestry.

That helicopter is taking water from a lake on Hudson Street in Whitwell.

ORIGINAL POST – Nov. 20. 10:45 AM

WHITWELL, Tenn. (WDEF) – A wildfire that broke out Sunday night in Marion County was still 0% contained on Monday morning.

Two fires near Bolt Farms on Whitwell Mountain merged on Sunday afternoon.

Whitwell Mountain fire / Whitwell Fire Dept.

Officials have been battling it ever since, but they still have not brought it under control.

The good news is that they say there is no danger so far to homes around Whitwell.

They say the fire is burning along the side of Whitwell Mountain, but not down it.

Officials originally believed the blaze was started by a campfire, but fire officials now tell us the cause of the fire is unconfirmed.

Monday is a very dangerous day for such fires.

Fire officials say the heavy winds coming later today could create a scenario like the one that created the Gatlinburg fire outbreak a few years ago.

In that case, ashes from fires on the mountains were blown into the valley below and started new wildfires.

The good news is that heavy rain should follow the winds overnight.

Meanwhile, all burning is banned in Hamilton County on Monday.

The National Weather Serice has issued a Red Flag Warning for our area for Monday night and Tuesday, which means extremely dangerous fire conditions.