Good point, Ms. Horton. As it was, there had been brush fires burning in N Georgia and Western NC since October. Hindsight is 20/20 and of course much coulda woulda shoulda is understandable. I appreciate how articulately you described your thoughts. How did I know that? I seriously question if bias will be discreetly worked into this agency and their review of the fire?? https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1477959465566642&id=100000578092120. Kind of like closing the barn door after the cow gets out, dont you think? It must have been Sunday, because a Type 1 team came in on Tuesday. Almost every creek drainage in GSMNP has stands of dead hemlocks (though some areas near roads had some hemlocks treated regularly to prevent adelgid infestation). An in depth investigation should be launched and the (ir)responsible parties identified. The Gatlinburg fire that killed 14 people was started by two teenagers dropping lit matches onto the ground along Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, sources close to the investigation told the Knoxville News Sentinel. Not action to punish or lay blame, but to facilitate learning that changes actions. The forecasts from the 24th through the 26th did not predict the extreme weather that began Monday, November 28. It seems that not even people in western areas have learned that lesson very well, and now it is time for those with homes and property in the east to realize they are at risk too. This is a developing story. People in our country must get this, because for all the overwhelming issues in our country today, they keep voting many of the same politicians back into office over and over and over again expecting a different outcome. Whether a tornado, hurricane or natural disaster, it weighs on your psyche. Report: Gatlinburg fire caused $7 million in damages All three incidents have a common denominator. Behind the Chimneys is Sugarland Mountain. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new articles by email. May all the people find peace and forgiveness in the midst of this storm. Regardless, the appropriate aerial assault should continue. We discussed what we would/could do if we had to evacuate. As the crow flies, thats not far from Gatlinburg and Ive heard of and read about how quickly wildfires spread and how far reaching they can be under dry conditions from drought. Not committing firefighters to direct attack in a steep very hard to access high risk area was a good decision. I was afraid to go into Park with boys. Thanks! 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. LeConte is going to be fine. They just hurl mean criticisms and put downs from a safe distance Brene Brown. Who was responsible for Gatlinburg fire? Mr. Cash cant order an evac, but he could have made a recommendation. Deciding to keep air resources in reserve for initial attack on new starts rather than wash the fire off chimney tops was a good decision. We all contribute to this phenomenon if not intentionally but unintentionally, simply by the design of our brains! The actual clifts are small and easily avoided. Emergency crews were on the scene for 31 hours extinguishing the fire before the emergency demolition was requested. This isnt finger pointing its the simple facts of the entire situation like it or not! That and your wish to pay 50% income tax and there will never be a fire again! Gatlinburg fire 10/9/2022: One body found after Parkway blaze Jeannines comments were spot on. When human death is involved, there should be accountability, even if there is unintentional negligence. Its community and people that have jobs. That said, we are now in the rebuild mode. From 7 p.m. until midnight sustained winds were at 13 to 17 mph with gusts from 34 to 49. Early in the afternoon we began to see large crewcab pickup trucks driving past our home. Also I just came across a facebook page showing two views of the same interchange in Gatlinburg at 10:28 and 10:52. My prayers are with all of you. Bats were roosting in the church rafters and dropping feces onto the pews. Youre right change is hard to come by. Politics, as we know can cloud even a clear sunny day!!! One person was found dead Sunday. The leaves that had hung on into late Fall because of lack of winds and rain for months began to rain from the trees in copious amounts and there were leaf funnels forming and it was hard as we ran from cabin to car loading Abram and Lady. If they had taken action the day it started instead of now using the excuse of the rough terrain, yeah it is but so is most mountain areas. If it was felt that people on this fire were at risk then dont staff the fire. The learning system of resolution. During fire suppression efforts, crews found one person dead inside the structure. But until the awareness of possibility and the letting go of holding onto what we think we know to be the truth much will remain unchanged. I am sure the Alum Cave trail up Mt. Watch the pride and ego firefighters: youll never outmatch Gods elements. Anyone can arm chair quarterback incident manager decisions after the smoke clears. Not even 5 years ago over 60 homes burned in one night in Wears Valley when fire spread from house to house, in the fall, during a high wind. I understand the excellent point made in the article that history in the Smokies area would expect less of a problem than out West. When you see more of them completely charred but living trees seemingly untouched that is a sign of both underground burning and how much water the living trees still possessed. He should loose his job and be prosecuted for this mess he created. Officials keep repeating that nothing like this has ever happened here before so they cant be responsible. Frankly people should lose their jobs and fault should be placed on their shoulders. His parents died in the fire in Gatlinburg . It is a sad state of affairs, the loss of life was quite avoidable. I certainly agree there are definitely consequences for our actions, for some more than others. Gatlinburg Fire Department crews responded to the scene and received help from Pigeon Forge Fire Department, Pigeon Forge Police Department, Sevierville Fire Department, Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department, Sevier County Emergency Management Agency, Sevier County Medical Examiners Office and Sevier County Ambulance Services. Many are willing to allow the absolute open permission to some to behave as they will without question, but are unwilling to allow others the same room to learn and grow. Given enough time the clock will run out and the weather will either be in the fire mangers favor or WATCH OUT! Its incredulous that evacuation didnt go out then. they if you limit that to local staff might not have as much fire management experience as say Yosemite or Yellowstone. The three places the fire was stated to have been seem to line up pretty straight on the map. The multiple chain of events you refer to is also simple, two juvenile delinquents set the fire, the park service knew it existed and they did absolutely nothing to put it out. The cause of the fire has still not been determined. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. You may have a point regarding lawsuits, reported actions and actual actions. How Gatlinburg attempted to notify its residents to evacuate as the fire burned into the city, http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2016/12/13/timeline-gatlinburg-wildfires/95138656/, http://www.southernfireexchange.org/etc/ITPFISE.pdf, Long bushfire season wears down firefighters in Queensland and Western Australia, Community near Heppner, Oregon first in Morrow County to earn Firewise designation, County Cork fire brigades work through the night on gorse fires, Renewed call for the Holy Grail of firefighter tracking, Hiker owes $300,000 for Arizona wildfire he started. We had somewhat of a plan but both agreed that if we had a warning or concern we would leave because of our location and our neighborhood has no fire hydrants. I always come back to that groupthink mentality, the ladder of inference, the been there done that mode, the failure/fear to act, and thats how weve always done it thinking; all part of how our unconscious brain works without our conscious intervention and critical thinking skills. 1 dead in Gatlinburg fire that affected travel to Smokies Downtown Gatlinburg fire: Experts identify remains found in rubble He was told there was none/no one. This Park Ranger was appointed to this position in December 2014 and he took office in February 2015, so in a span of one year and nine months he managed to let the place burn and we have owned property there for 32 years and nothing remotely like this has ever happened. Yes my house burnt along with 520 others in North Chalet Village, village no longer but all foundations. Thats why I refused to use a local contractor. But very little if any fire suppression activity occurred until Monday, November 28. Paddlers prepare to hit the water for the return of the Kualoa Hakipuu Canoe Festival, Former Mililani High athletic director indicted, Hawaii police departments offer big incentives as competition for new recruits heats up, Stroke survivor's specially-modified bike returned, Midday Newscast: City proposes $300 tax credit for those with homeowner's exemption, 'The Other Side of Paradise' with Lynn Kawano, KHNLPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KGMBPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KFVEPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KSIXPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246, KOGGPUBLICFILE@HAWAIINEWSNOW.COM (808) 847-3246. Love your neighbors, yes. We listened to local TV news at home which reported voluntary evacuations for Mynatt Park after fire was reported in the Twin Creeks area. With that all happening before lunch. GATLINBURG, Tennessee -- The charges have been dropped against two teens who were accused of starting the wildfires in Gatlinburg last fall. Ive not had a chance to hike post-fire areas in the mountains yet to see fires effect on dead hemlocks, but what Henry said about dead stumps burning into the ground looking like a volcano rings true with what Ive witnessed in mountain forest areas that burned decades ago. And not only they had time to evacuate but I called 911 Monday night on Nov. 28 2016 and ask if there was any evacuation orders for Gatlinburg and was told By The 911 operator no not at this time Later found out the whole place was on fire at the same time I called 911 ( WHY ) was I lied to ? No evacuation orders issued- If I had gone to work that day my two sons would be dead. The town I live in in Kentucky has a $500 fine for tossing a cigarette out the window and we do not even have The potential for many brushfires. They have tied their hands and resources through environmental forestry management. I convinced my husband to drive back toward our house to see if we could see the fire. It is very hard and slow to navigate through laurel stands and the thick Tennesee Barbed Wire Briar patches. Not clouding the issues with the intent to take down a person. There was a tree down on road out but we were able to drive around it. This is from previous questioning of mine from another Wildfire Today article: Team to Begin Chimney Tops 2 Fire: I appreciate your more thorough break down of backfire. As we drove south out of Pigeon Forge I took another photo before we entered the spur, which shows smoke and a red glow above Gatlinburg. Their soft wood holds a lot of moisture normally, but the conditions the past few months would have dried the limbs and outer layers up the trunk. He has had to struggle with the untimely death of his very healthy and active in younger retirement parents but both of us having been an EMS and fire service, he is of the opinion just as I am that the NPS as well as the Gatlinburg fire chief and the city and county officials have the most of blood on their hands . Situational awareness to current and predicted variables, as well as the potential of possibility is key. Contractor will be on site this weekend with a subcontractor cleaning up my debris and really pouring my foundation and my logs will arrive within 15 days or more . At 10AM we drove to Sevierville to buy more materials (to eventually add to the bonfire). In addition, the valley above Gatlinburg, drained by LeConte Creek, has had enormous numbers of dead hemlock standing and fallen. They will be touched in their heart as deeply as anyone who has lost in the tragedy itself. It is my understanding this first fire was at or near the summit in the immediate vicinity of the 2nd fire which unfortunately devastated Gatlinburg. Yet if no one raises cain about it, things will be rebuilt with no regard for such safety factors. Remembering the Gatlinburg Wildfires five years later - WBRC I have a close friend on IMT in southern CO so have some familiarity with the process. Screenshot from the Knox News video. There are hundreds of hemlock skeletons heading north from Chimney Rock. To repeat what you have already said, people on the mountain especially Chalet Village north, no longer feel safe . Yet today June 5th, Sevier County still has their infamous gag order in effect more than 6 months later in the interests of prosecuting the trial of the murdurous kids. However, firebe it a wildfire, structure fire, flammable liquid fire or a a bi-nine campfire does not care or worry about budget cuts, staffing issues, political agendas, experienced or inexperienced decision making or other human factors. One other consideration relevant to some of the previous comments about the aggressiveness or lack thereof in dealing with the fire in the first few days is the context of other ongoing wildfires. It just so happens that at this time hundreds of fires were subsequently being started all around the south! Yet no one made a move. I look forward to seeing the report when it comes out. 321) at Glades Road and the Post Office. He asked them if they had any information on the fire and they told him Youve got nothing to worry about. By this time the wind was blowing hard and strong. Later it changed to a mandatory evacuation. I hold you in my thoughts and prayers for healing and recovery there are others who have posted about their losses on this blog, Kelly for one, and I did not give myself peymidfipn to say these words to them at the time .. Drought, fall winds, fuel moistures that havent recovered in months, what part of this disaster was a surprise. Now I am tasked with trying to motivate and coordinate the local fire departments much of who are volunteer, the state and national forest professionals to work with me and the community. My wife and I hiked to Alum Cave Bluffs Saturday, Nov. 26, while the fire was small up on the Chimneys. Waited a month to report this event and turn over the pictures they took to forestry officials! Can we allow room for others to fail forward? Like hell he did. In total GFD crews, in addition to, Pigeon Forge Fire Department, Sevierville Fire Department, Sevier County Ambulance Service and Pittman Center Fire Department assisted in extinguishing the blaze. Increasing cloudiness and strong southerly winds on Monday ahead of the next storm system. There may be some validity in the DA doing that, but it sure calls their integrity into question. Read more Tennessee Wildfire Cause: Gatlinburg Fires May Have Been Man-Made, Officials Claim is an article from: The Inquisitr News. Jody, you have said well what Ive wanted to say from my impressions made after the fire about this tragic situation. Hong Kong skyscraper fire could mean $64M payout, cause under investigation We drove down to Calhouns complex, through their parking area and back out onto the parkway and headed east. It was about this time that we noticed the wind beginning to get stronger. As long as there are watchdogs for the truth such yourself, it will be hard to bury. These fires were allowed to cook with little or no suppression action. OnMonday, December 5, the Incident Management Team (IMT) on the Chimney Tops 2 Fire that burned from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) into the Gatlinburg area reported that it has caused the deaths of 14people. The fire could have been stopped over the weekend if proper procedures had been followed. I thought if we were have to leave we could take both vehicles to our friends house to sit out the night. They had no sirens or Claxons blaring, no shouting to evacuate thru their grill mounted speakers. GRSM firefighters spotted the new fire as they returned from responding to a report of a vehicle fire. http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2016/12/13/timeline-gatlinburg-wildfires/95138656/. 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. Birmingham City have had to close their training ground after a fire caused damage on Friday morning. The helicopter worked until it had to refuel and then two other Type 1 helicopters took its placeuntil dark. The fire did not get up the valley to the Alum Cave Parking Lot, and LeConte Lodge is fine. There should be accountability for those in charge, in every arena of governance and responsibility and at every level. By definition, prescribed burning is described as fire applied in a knowledgeable manner to forest and grassland fuels on a specific land area under selected weather conditions to accomplish predetermined, well-defined management objectives, pg 2, http://www.southernfireexchange.org/etc/ITPFISE.pdf. The governors promised investigation has yet to appear (if it ever will), but the National Parks investigation is proceeding and no locals are on that team. 2 min read. Numerous photos show a dramatic increase in smoke in the downtown area between 5 and 5:30 pm. We had hiked to the Chimneys for the view many times it was easy to see the wind being funneled down from there to Gatlinburg just like an invisible whitewater river. The Gatlinburg ByPass is also closed. You have my utmost respect for firefighting; and Ive recently addressed a firefighter who was an apparent spokesman for the local media patty-caking. Regarding the Chimney Tops Fire of Nov 14th, 2016, https://www.facebook.com/GreatSmokyMountainsNPS/posts/1236286613095333. Another example from my own experience which has been rocked by bias and blatant failure to receive appropriate support and assistance when asked for; causing issues to occur that were later simply blown way out of proportion with conspired lies in order to protect and cover up the real underlying issues and people. I knew him when he was at Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore. Perhaps all the firefighters prior experience was giving them mental slides that were no longer valid given the conditions. Not the best plan but the safest. etc. Lose their jobs over this? I told her my concerns of fire, traffic, and falling trees blocking flow of traffic were there an emergency. The diff. The age of information is both eye opening and scary, the potential for manipulation is astounding! Maybe within the next year, well see some kind of progress come together, said Neddo. A couple of weeks after hearing no hardcore news from Knox News, I wrote the editor asking if the News was still doing hardcore investigation of the fire. When I arrived in Branson at the hotel I was close to a fire exit, and frankly forgot about my nightmare. To echo your statements, the information is out there, a model exists on how to properly do it now its getting the proper training for all of the professionals involved and the public taking the role of accountability watchdogs. The report said the fire was an accident and caused around $7 million in damages. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Also, for the last several decades, NPS policies have allowed these excessive fuels to build. 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. Council will utilize the 100s of wildfire experts testimony that the forresty service and local fire chief should have thrown everything they had at the Chimney 2 blaze the day it happened and everyone and every resource they could use from out of state that could get there within 24 hours. At this time, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials were contacted, according to the report. Mike I appreciate what you said about a time and season for prescribed/monitored fire, and we need prescribed fire in the toolbox. But it is very important to point out that the fire that burned into Gatlinburg was never a prescribed fire. Thanksfully ATF agents helped TN Bureau of Investigation put their full resources at hand and arrested to two teenage idiots that started the fire. notice should have been at 5-6 given the wind. Chief Kurtz was right on target to compare South Canyon, Yarnell, and now Chimney Top 2. Deputy Park Superintendent Jordan Clayton said the initial fire on an area called Chimney Tops, a double peaked ridge line about 4 miles away from Gatlinburg, was caused by a person or. Most of us are hopeful the two young man responsible for causing this fire will be severely punished however after all of the expert testimony to not only the Knoxville news Sentinel times what other periodicals claiming gross mishandling of the beginning of the Chimney Tops 2 fire by the forestry service as well as the Gatlinburg fire department I am certain that the Philadelphia lawyer that they have hired will use this in their defense and I would not bet that they will get a much lighter sentence as a result . The Knox News timeline alone has enough info for several indictments. Three people were killed and 14 others sent to area hospitals, Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said Tuesday. My nightmare depicted more what happened in Gatlinburg than so far in Branson. It also led officials to. We couldnt go up Motor Nature Trail so we went back to Cherokee Orchard Road. I am like you in that I will never be able to get a good nights sleep on the mountain again as Im all be consistently looking out the window. It appears that the Deputy has contradicted himself here. There was much deadwood on the forest floor, including the Hemlocks and other species both down and standing dead. The individual was identified as Joe Martin Bates, 54, according to the Sevier County Medical Examiners office. I just assumed that others would be leaving Gatlinburg out of concerns similar to mine. Try to stay neutral I understand; but the NPS has a track record of avoiding accountability. I have for years pointed out to my students the dead hemlock all over the mountain. Even life-long locals said they had never seen rhododendren wither up before. I told him I would call fire department in Gatlinburg across from Food City. Learning for the future is important if it includes changes in policy and procedure. At 2 a.m. Monday the wind speeds recorded at Indian Grave began increasing and the direction became more consistently out of the south and southwest. Where is his accountability? Fire kills 1, destroys businesses in downtown Gatlinburg, Tenn Basically telling the press, the public and the injured families to go to hell. The Seiver County Medical Examiner's office identified the man as 54-year-old Joe Martin Bates, according to the City of Gatlinburg. 10/10/22, 1:56 p.m. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Many locals are saying the lack of evac was income driven. I left the professional fire service with 3o plus years of experience, yet with a still learning and observant mind. The Spur or US 441 runs between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in the Smokies. Tough questions like, Why did it take so long for community leaders to activate burn bans in spite of the extreme drought conditions, fuel loads, number of arson fires and the regional outbreak of fires, the social nature of this crime, and other related events. If the Park Service had done there job in the first place and City and County leaders would have stepped in and done something this could and would have been prevented.