Investigators now say downed power lines caused the big Sevier County fires

PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (WDEF) – The crime unit for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture has identified how the two big wildfires in Sevier County started.

And they are blaming the weather.

“Based on the results of our origin and cause investigation, it was determined the two large wildland fires were caused by downed power lines,” ACU Captain Greg Whitehead said. “The high winds that took down the power lines to spark the fires also fueled the progression of the fires.”

The Indigo Lane fire west of Sevierville burned almost 2,500 acres and several buildings.

It took fire crews a week to get it under control.

The Seymour fire took them two weeks.

Firefighters from all over our area took part in the battle.