Fire Crews Called to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg UPDATE

Fire Crews Called to Anakeesta in Gatlinburg UPDATE

Photo courtesy of WVLT

UPDATE (May 31): One week from a fire in the BirdVenture attraction at Anakeesta, the cause of the blaze is being released by investigators.

The fire has been ruled an accident. Investigators say the fire was caused by “spontaneous combustion” from construction work on the owl house portion of the new area at the theme park.

Officials said Gatlinburg Fire Department and Gatlinburg Police Department crews were dispatched to the scene around 9:23 p.m. on May 24th and were able to get the fire under control and extinguished in a timely and safe manner.

The area was closed to guests due to construction, and no one was injured in the fire.

ORIGINAL STORY: A fire breaks out near a construction site at Anakeesta in Gatlinburg.

It happened Wednesday night, when Gatlinburg Fire Department and Gatlinburg Police Department crews responded they found a 12-foot by 12-foot structure completely engulfed in flames at the Birdventure construction site.

Anakeesta officials say they remain open.