Another death confirmed in Tennessee wildfires

Much needed rainfall moved across eastern Tennessee on Wednesday, including in the fire ravaged areas near Gatlinburg, Storm Center 7 Chief Meteorologist Eric Elwell said.

“I can tell you that we’ve all been overwhelmed at the scene of destruction in the county and primarily in the city of Gatlinburg”, Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters told reporters at a press conference. He gave the commissioner of Commerce and Insurance discretion to assist policyholders even when premium payments have been delayed, and waived fees for the issuance of driver’s licenses and other identification for victims of the disasters.

A total of 45 people were treated at a local hospital after hurricane-force winds pushed the Chimney Top fire, which began in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, into the Gatlinburg area.

Authorities say the wildfire that spread embers and flames into Gatlinburg, igniting new blazes and forcing thousands to evacuate, is now 10 percent contained.

A scorched vehicle sits next to a burned out building in Gatlinburg, Tenn., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016.

The mandatory evacuation order remained in place in Gatlinburg on Wednesday. Tinderbox conditions and powerful winds whipped up a firestorm in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, forcing the evacuation of at least 14,000 residents from the gateway communities of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Dollywood will remain closed until 2pm (1900 GMT) Friday, while the Great Smoky Mountains – the most visited national park in the United States – said it had closed all park facilities and many trails.

By late Tuesday night, officials estimated that 15,000 acres had burned during the previous two days at a quick rate.

“We are trying to get into every area”, Waters said. About 700 structures were reported damaged or destroyed in Gatlinburg and surrounding Sevier County. “We are a family”, said Sam Ford, the shift supervisor at Starbucks in nearby Pigeon Forge, after serving Tim Morrison his second cup of coffee.

Beason and Hensley, who arrived in East Tennessee a month ago from MS and were staying at the Bedrock Motel, said they left their motel room without time even to grab diapers for William.

The dry, windy conditions made for the ideal storm – setting off a blaze that burned more than 15,000 acres, killing seven people and damaging or destroying hundreds of homes and businesses.

“This is a fire for the history books”, Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner said.

“My heart hurts so bad that she won’t be able to see Disney through my son’s eyes like she so wanted to”, Wood said. Hurricane-force winds were clocked at almost 90 miles per hour, spreading the fire dramatically.

Authorities were working to identify the deceased and no further details were released.

The area could be helped by up to 2 inches of rain that was expected Wednesday into Thursday.

Residents of an American village filmed their terrifying escape as wildfire engulfed their mountainside home.

When asked about the impact of the wildfires on tourism, Alexander replied, “Of course this is a concern, but both mayors would want me to say, their towns will be back fast”.

Pigeon Forge is home to Dollywood, the theme park owned by singer and actress Dolly Parton. Park guests were evacuated as the flames approached, but the park has (so far) been spared from any damage.

“I have been impressed with how many event-based volunteers that we have from all over”, Sheets said, describing volunteers who aren’t regular Red Cross helpers. “It couldn’t have been more than 30 seconds, and there was a solid wall of fire”, Tim Morrison said. Dollywood was relatively unscathed, and is scheduled to reopen on Friday.