Firefighters hope rain will put out Gatlinburg fires

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WDEF) – Firefighters are waiting for the rain to douse the wildfires that have swept into Gatlinburg and neighboring mountain tourist communities.

Chattanooga, Bradley County and several other local fire departments are sending help to the area.

Overnight, there was a panicked evacuation of Sevier County as flames burned the Park Vista hotel in downtown Gatlinburg and even approached the gates of Dollywood.

People were driving through flames, so close that their tires were melting.

Several homes and cabins have burned, but so far no fatalities have been reported.

500 people have evacuated from Pigeon Forge.

The Ripley’s Aquarium has survived, though operators had to leave all the fish and animals behind.

But eyewitness reports this morning say most of the strip is scorched.

Bill May
@billmayiii

Just managed to get into Gatlinburg. We lost Wild Wing and Hughes all. All other buildings seemed to have survived.

avid Wortham
@david_wortham
321 north of parkway

Categories: Regional News

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