Downtown Gatlinburg under mandatory evacuation order due to wildfire.

[#1hoosierfan]

Has anyone heard about horses that might be stabled in the area? Horseback riding is so popular there and the stables are typically tucked back in the forest. It makes me sick to think about horses being trapped by the fires.

 

[cabanafrau]

Horrified to think of the agony of the burn victims and will pray for their recovery. So sad to think of homes, livelihoods and such beautiful wilderness being destroyed.

 

[asta]

Update from the hard hit community of Cobbly Nob - 76 homes destroyed out of 176 surveyed.

 

[Twende]

I just heard there are at least 3 dead! SO terrible!

 

[JimMIA]

I just heard there are at least 3 dead! SO terrible!

Yes, CNN is reporting three fatalities. No details yet, so there is no way to know if any of those are the three critical burn victims mentioned above.

 

[JimMIA]

Has anyone heard about horses that might be stabled in the area? Horseback riding is so popular there and the stables are typically tucked back in the forest. It makes me sick to think about horses being trapped by the fires.

I haven't heard any reports, but I do know that the authorities had set up special shelters for affected livestock, so they are doing what they can I'm sure. The livestock shelters were listed along with the people shelters.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

I feel like I need to apologize because I think, on the other thread about the wildfires, you asked about smoke in the area, & I told you that Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg were fine. But, at the time, one of my friends really was there & reporting clear, blue skies. But I'm sorry if the smoke affected your asthma any!

No apologies necessary. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg were mostly pretty good while we were there. We had minor smoke smells early in the am and again at night, but we didn't smell anything in the dayime. There were air quality alerts while we were there, but we never saw anyone wearing masks. The visible smoke hovered in the mountains while we were there. We drove up past significant smoke around Newfound Gap area - just past the Chimneys which were on fire - but the smoke cleared as we approached Clingman's Dome. We hiked Andrew's Bald, and I did have some respiratory issues during the hike but it could have been due to the elevation rather than smoke. It was gorgeous, though. Worth every short breath and both blisters on my heels!

I have been in tears since last night over the devastation in the mountains and Gatlinburg, though. East TN means the world to me. We lived there for about 10 years and visit several times a year. If we could live there again, I would jump at the chance. We were scheduled to return for another visit in just a few weeks, but we have not yet decided if we will postpone. I hope the area gets a ton of rain this week that squelches the fires once and for all.

 

[YoYoAurora]

Has anyone heard about horses that might be stabled in the area? Horseback riding is so popular there and the stables are typically tucked back in the forest. It makes me sick to think about horses being trapped by the fires.

As I understand it, several people nearby have opened fields to livestock and horses affected by the fire.

My heart is breaking for all of the people, animals, and businesses affected by the fire. So far, my family and friends and their homes nearby are blessed to be safe from the fires. It has rained a bit, but more is needed.

 

[katie01]

When DH's brother got married in Gatlinburg, the evening after the wedding, we all went to play Hillbilly Golf & even DH's brother & sister-in-law (the groom & bride) joined us. And the Christmas DH's older brother was deployed, the family spent Christmas in Gatlinburg, & we all again played Hillbilly Golf. So it was a "special memory" place for us. I'm so sad that it's gone.

I read somewhere that Ripley's Aquarium is still okay for right now.

I watched the video of the 2 men & their dog trying to get down the mountain too, & I can't even imagine. I was impressed by how calm they were! All the pictures & videos are just so surreal.

Living within just a few hours drive away from the area, DH & I have both been so many times over the years that we'd started taking it for granted. A few summers ago, it was so HOT down here, that we even drove up to the Smoky Mountains one afternoon just so we could stick our feet in the cold mountain creek.

I'm a beach girl at heart, &, given the opportunity, I choose the beach over the mountains. But these mountains & area will always be special to our family. The last time we spent the weekend in Gatlinburg, our younger DS was a baby - and, that trip, I strolled around the ice skating rink w/ him while DH ice-skated w/ DD & our older DS at Ober Gatlinburg. DH & I spent one night this past April for our anniversary & decided that it'd been too long since we'd been & that we needed to bring the kids again. I think we just assumed it would always be there.

We love the Cade's Cove area & driving through the mountains & all the wildlife, and this picture just breaks my heart. My prayers for all the people & animals affected by this horrible fire & all the firefighters who are fighting it...

View attachment 208077

That's Cade's Cove?! OMGosh. May I ask where you found the image, I'd like to see what they are saying about it

 

[EB Beaumont]

The wife and I got married there in ’06. We visit usually once a year, and were there just last week. I imagine the cabin we stayed in probably burned as it was very close to the Mountain Lodge restaurant. Regardless, it’s awful... Prayers to the rescue workers, firefighters, police, and all those affected.

 

[EB Beaumont]

That's Cade's Cove?! OMGosh. May I ask where you found the image, I'd like to see what they are saying about it

That image is from 2000, from a fire in Montana...

 

[katie01]

That image is from 2000, from a fire in Montana...

Ah, I wondered, as I hadn't yet heard anything yet about Cade's Cove

 

[EB Beaumont]

Ah, I wondered, as I hadn't yet heard anything yet about Cade's Cove

I saw a report on a Knoxville news station (I think it was?) that stated Cade's Cove was ok. I'm always skeptical though in situations like this until we see proof or confimration from multiple outlets... but with helicopters up and such, I think by now if Cade’s Cove had burned, it would have been widely reported.

 

[Twende]

The missing person list is growing. I have not heard any more about the man (Michael West) who got separated from his wife and their dogs. There is a couple missing. Their three adult sons are all in burn units but there is no sign of the parents (Jon and Janet Summers). There is another woman missing (Alice Hagler). Her family is searching for her. And the mom and her 2 young daughters (Constance Reed, Chloe, 12; and Lily, 9). Also reported missing by their families are a Brad Phillips, Melissa Ownby, and a Pamela Johnson.

So very sad!

 

[Wendy31]

That's Cade's Cove?! OMGosh. May I ask where you found the image, I'd like to see what they are saying about it

I'm sorry! I didn't check before I posted the pic & I normally do. It showed up in my Facebook feed.

Had I been thinking, I would have realized the pic wasn't from this fire - the whole area has been in a drought, & a lot of the stream beds are dry.

The actual pictures & stories that are coming out of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge are sad & heartbreaking enough...

 

[Shmily1]

The missing person list is growing. I have not heard any more about the man (Michael West) who got separated from his wife and their dogs. There is a couple missing. Their three adult sons are all in burn units but there is no sign of the parents (Jon and Janet Summers). There is another woman missing (Alice Hagler). Her family is searching for her. And the mom and her 2 young daughters (Constance Reed, Chloe, 12; and Lily, 9).

So very sad!

Alice Hagler's son is from Savannah and they've been on the news here trying to find anyone that knows where she is. So sad.

 

[tinatark]

I live in Sevierville. Have business in Gatlinburg. The downtown "strip" is mostly intact - as being reported by the media, we cannot get into Gatlinburg, all roads into downtown are closed. The damage seems to be the ridges. Many, many cabins are total losses. Ski Mountain road has substantial damage. Ober Gatlinburg is ok. The hotel where the video was shot (Park Vista) has some damage, but is okay. Hillbilly golf has some damage, but may not be a total loss. Arts and Crafts community/loop is mostly fine. Dollywood is fine. Dream More resort is fine. The aquarium is okay.

About 4k people in shelters. 15k acres burned/burning. We were supposed to get rain tonight, but ahead of it is another night of high winds. This time, though, the winds are Southwest, so the fire should not come more toward Pigeon Forge.

The fire started early Monday near Chimney tops. We had smoke/ash all day - but around 5-6 p.m., the winds started blowing it. People were evacuated with only minutes notice.

3 confirmed dead, not identified, in separate incidents. the death toll will likely rise, as door to door searches are completed. We have seen a husband on tv since this morning - he left his wife and 2 daughters at home while he checked the progress of the fire. When he returned, he was unable to get to his home because of the flames. He has not seen them since.Many missing people photos and details posted on the community pages.

Pray for our area!

 

[katie01]

I'm sorry! I didn't check before I posted the pic & I normally do. It showed up in my Facebook feed.

Had I been thinking, I would have realized the pic wasn't from this fire - the whole area has been in a drought, & a lot of the stream beds are dry.

The actual pictures & stories that are coming out of Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge are sad & heartbreaking enough...

That's ok, it's been hard to find accurate info online, I'm sure it's hard for reporters and photographers to get into the area. Most of the footage I've seen has been video'ed by actual residents

 

[katie01]

I live in Sevierville. Have business in Gatlinburg. The downtown "strip" is mostly intact - as being reported by the media, we cannot get into Gatlinburg, all roads into downtown are closed. The damage seems to be the ridges. Many, many cabins are total losses. Ski Mountain road has substantial damage. Ober Gatlinburg is ok. The hotel where the video was shot (Park Vista) has some damage, but is okay. Hillbilly golf has some damage, but may not be a total loss. Arts and Crafts community/loop is mostly fine. Dollywood is fine. Dream More resort is fine. The aquarium is okay.

About 4k people in shelters. 15k acres burned/burning. We were supposed to get rain tonight, but ahead of it is another night of high winds. This time, though, the winds are Southwest, so the fire should not come more toward Pigeon Forge.

The fire started early Monday near Chimney tops. We had smoke/ash all day - but around 5-6 p.m., the winds started blowing it. People were evacuated with only minutes notice.

3 confirmed dead, not identified, in separate incidents. the death toll will likely rise, as door to door searches are completed. We have seen a husband on tv since this morning - he left his wife and 2 daughters at home while he checked the progress of the fire. When he returned, he was unable to get to his home because of the flames. He has not seen them since.Many missing people photos and details posted on the community pages.

Pray for our area!

So many homeless, it's unimagineable. Hard to fathom the lack of warning people had to evacuate too, that must have been terrifying. I saw a clip of the man looking for his wife and two daughters last night, praying for them and all those searching for missing loved ones, hoping for happy endings and people found safe from harm

 

[asta]

Story on the three brothers who are in the burn unit at Vandy: http://www.tennessean.com/story/new...e-fair-hospitalized-after-wildfires/94657306/