who caused the gatlinburg fires?

Why are there not more prescribed and controlled burns being conducted? Even Congressman from east TN and western NC need to here it. This is a developing story. Also I just came across a facebook page showing two views of the same interchange in Gatlinburg at 10:28 and 10:52. But, well see what the investigation comes up with. I told him there wasnt when I got there at 5 oclock but I could not even see driveways on the way up. Instead simply took pictures on their phone, 3. Most of the people that own property down there like me live elsewhere in the real world were things cannot be as easily shoved under the rug like they are down there. My writing comes from the heart! But. What caused the fire in the Smoky Mountains? With the drought conditions this would have acted as a flammable liquid would with explosive ignition and then been carried easily by the prevailing strong winds. Emergency management should have been all over this from the very beginning. Humans will never be able to control or suppress all unwanted fires-structure, chemical or wildland. ), lack of knowledge of alternative communication systems (the Motorola area wide emergency radio system installed last year). I am aware that in this area of the Eastern Appalachians, there are many retired firefighters and emergency personnel who would probably be willing partners in helping other regional professionals and volunteers in meeting the opportunities presented by a changing world. But the condition of the fuel was also important since it happenedduring what the National Weather Service (NWS) calls exceptional drought conditions. The remains of a business in Gatlinburg, Tenn., smolder on Nov. 29, after a devastating wildfire damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 buildings and killed at least 14 people. Accountability is important and paying the price for our decisions is too. Then, a few days later they had the full timeline article and info about the NPS not following its own protocols. Will Lessons Learned fade into distant short-term US fire management history archives once again. It is very hard and slow to navigate through laurel stands and the thick Tennesee Barbed Wire Briar patches. By 4:00PM the wind was getting stronger and we were not getting any updated information from local TV news. That is when it would have been prudent to announce a pre-evacuation notice for the Gatlinburg area to be ready to evacuate if an evacuation order is announced. He promised a committee to study what happened and there has been no word since. Regardless, the appropriate aerial assault should continue. The governor needs to hear that, as well. I said Fed. Jeanne: I do not disagree with your thought process regarding some of the broad challenges wildland fire mangers have faced in the past thirty some years. It must have been Sunday, because a Type 1 team came in on Tuesday. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - Four downtown Gatlinburg businesses are picking up the pieces after a fire Sunday morning destroyed their building. In my eyes, TEMA should have taken control of the situation and ordered evacuations before sunset. Its hard to see. It was shaking the car as we drove. Chimney Tops 2 Fire - National Park Service Blame, no. The IMT reported that the fire had not increased in size over the previous 24 hours and was still listed at 17,006 acres. The Thomas Divide Complex Fire comprises two wildfires the 140-acre Stone Pile Fire and the Cooper Creek Fire, which is estimated to be 170 acres. I can only say that I had no peace at all whatsoever after the first word I heard of the terrible fire there .. Fire kills 1, destroys businesses in downtown Gatlinburg, Tenn Lets hope that this round regarding the fire and loss of life, it will be more difficult for officials to weasel out of this one. As one who has had experience and ready mix, concrete block, pavers, and pre-cast, one would be a fool to rebuild on ANY existing foundation that came in contact with temperatures approaching 3,000F. There is a marked increase in smoke and decreasing visibility due to the smoke. Im not saying GRSM made the right or wrong decision, there is just a lot more involved then saying they didnt suppress it promptly. Hemlocks were mentioned in a number of daily updates on Inciweb because they are basically standing roman candles thanks to the spiral of limbs. Ms.Schroer said she was not aware of any actual on-the-ground fire suppression efforts, other than perhaps some work on a distant indirect fireline, until Monday November 28, after the fire had grown large and crossed US Highway 141, the main road into the park. The helicopter worked until it had to refuel and then two other Type 1 helicopters took its placeuntil dark. Things dont change unless people stand up and make them change. Difficult access to safely fight fire, lack of pre-blow up fire management, and extreme drought capped off by an exceptional weather event led to the July 1st, 1998 Farmton firestorm that burned through the rural community where I lived in east central Florida. Over 3000 wildfires received Initial Attack in November in the southern Appalachians, many of which were still very active when Chimney Tops 2 started. No evacuation orders issued- If I had gone to work that day my two sons would be dead. The report stated the demolition was requested due to the health and safety of the citizens and visitors in the event of a full structure collapse.. etc. I was near Gatlinburg until Saturday prior to the fire, visiting my family. 10/10/22, 1:56 p.m. We had loaded dog and Abram in car, out of smoke and told them to stay put. I agree with the earlier post that if this fire had been in Southern California or other areas subject to devastating fire if it would have been managed differently. Until 1 p.m. sustained speeds were 4 to 6 mph with gusts at 12 to 19 mph. I told her my concerns of fire, traffic, and falling trees blocking flow of traffic were there an emergency. Those strong southerly winds had been forecast a good two days before the fire broke through into the developed areas. It works like an Amber Alert to people who download the app and sign up. I hope this video puts people at ease that this fire is. Citing the steep terrain and the safety of firefighters, fire managers at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) decided not to take direct action on the fire which would entail constructing fireline along the edge of the fire to remove the fuel that allows it to spread. Yes, good points Jody. In response to Jeanne in regard to Kelly Morgans comments: It is the duty of the American people to honor and respect and obey the Laws of the Land unless government becomes a dictatorship to basic rights and freedoms. This eventually will affect us all at some point in time, as we too may one day find ourselves faced with similar circumstance. Just like the mayor of Amity in Jaws, they were not about to evacuate the entire city on Thanksgiving weekend. The teens, 15 and 17, were charged with starting the Chimney Tops fire which eventually spread to the Smoky Mountains, into Sevier County and Gatlinburg, killing 14 people, injuring more than. Their chronological order of events doesnt match up with what some folks were observing posted on social media. There are zones that are simply are impenetrable by cellular rays and even satellite has issues. Had they viewed the Chimney Tops 2 fire as though it was in the forested southwest Im sure they would have issued pre-evacuation notices up to 48 hours prior to the wind events of that Monday. Or in steep cliff terrain it just isnt going to happen, no one on the fire. I dont know details as to the trail. It was hard to drive because of falling leaves, branches, smoke, wind, and nerves. Join our group. We may never really know the truth about this situation just as with so many other current and prominent situations. But the pickup trucks I encountered were full of wildfire firefighters, inside the City of Gatlinburg. But there have also been many times when these so called experts were thrust into a different climate or situation and they too experienced failures. These so called means of helping people out is a lie. At least seven people have died and dozens have been hospitalized in wildfires in Tennessee that have ravaged a popular tourist town and forced thousands from their homes. I convinced my husband to drive back toward our house to see if we could see the fire. Read more Tennessee Wildfire Cause: Gatlinburg Fires May Have Been Man-Made, Officials Claim is an article from: The Inquisitr News. Given the wind forecast, pre-evac notice should have gone out on Sunday, Monday morning at latest. http://henryspoetry.blogspot.com/2016/12/cabin-on-creek-and-chimneys-top-2-fire.html, http://henryspoetry.blogspot.com/2016/12/great-chimney-tops-2-fire-science.html. November 27th, 35 acres. It appears that the Deputy has contradicted himself here. The Chimney Tops Trail led from the highway to the top of the hill. As for Caf 420, they have plans to rebuild, and their employees will keep their jobs. Whatever happened to good old common sense decisions considering the drought, excessive fuels, and weather! IMT issued pre-evacuation notices in GA and NC each time they saw cold-front winds approaching that could would threaten communities. The only way they will learn from the fire is if they have to face a jury of their peers to account for their ineptness even know they were in charge of protecting us and our homes and they did neither. Alice Hagler, who went missing at Chalet Village, was identified Wednesday night by her son Lyle Wood, who said his mother's body had been found "in the ruins of her home, her life taken by a. Having said that, I used to work on an incident management team whose purpose was to manage what we called years ago, let burn fires. The city and the county has always been about one thing. I was on the phone w them that Mon. If the superintendent of the Park Service couldnt see what the consequence could be then he was not qualified for the job and after reading his BIO he was never qualified and this is what we get. This is a failure at the city, county and state levels, as well as top FEMA, leadership. Who will accuse and then fire then? A little later the local TV news reported the fire had crossed the road and was headed up the mountain behind the Park Vista. This is a text book example of waiting for rain and not planning for WHAT IF! Not sure why it matters, but you offered such a specific time, thought I would offer info to possibly make it more accurate. I ran other errands and stopped by cabin to unload groceries before picking boys up from school. The Gatlinburg Space Needle fire (July 1992) In 1992, a fire destroyed Ripley's Gatlinburg Museum which was, at the time, located at the base of the needle. His parents died in the fire in Gatlinburg . Published: Oct. 11, 2022 at 5:31 PM PDT GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - Four downtown Gatlinburg businesses are picking up the pieces after a fire Sunday morning destroyed their building. Its always been this way so you have to watch who you deal with, this is why the City and County need to clean this up, this would bring down the prices of these people with signs up everywhere for clean up. It caused a shutdown . It seems to me that the extreme wind was as unprecedented as the drought and the low stream levels. @wvlt pic.twitter.com/P7roVBCq8B. When you have an active, non controlled fire, an area in exceptional drought, late fall vegetative conditions, and southerly winds of 40 to 60 MPH forecasted, you do not need to be a nuclear physicist to realize the potential (probability) that a catastrophic fire event is right at your doorstep. Shelter locations could have been announced, especially encouraging people to take action during the daylight hours that day so that escaping in total darkness during an inferno of fire or not having the means to do so would not be forced on people, and they could make arrangements for their own safety. Lets see, that would probably consist of a GS-5 or 6 and two or three seasonal GS-4s. This time it is not firefighters but civilian deaths. This is one of the wettest areas in the entire US, and when you do not not receive a drop of rain for months on end, you know something bad is going to happen. Hasnt anyone noticed that friends groups are paying for major park infrastructure and various other projects that our Congress has failed to provide for? First rule of any structure fire or wildfire. Managers may need to keep resources in reserve for initial attack on new fires rather than a Hit it with all you have the Moment it breaks out. strategy. Resources = $$$=taxes. When I built a home here just a few years ago and wanted to have a sprinkler system installed, I was told we dont have big wildfires here. I cannot count how many times my wife or I would find a fire smoldering typically from someone who flipped a lit cigarette and the brush when they were finished. However, they are using a Super Tanker to douse the flames going on down there. I have to assume that the city of Gatlinburg felt that since my road was county property that I was on my own. The DA in Sevier County has put a gag rule in effect since the get go to protect the teeneagers involved. The steepness here is epic, the only way out of valleys this steep is straight down or up, your lucky not to hit a waterfall. I would describe this as flooding in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Tennessee, but certainly heavy rain rising the water levels throughout.

Louisa County Iowa News, Articles W