Great Smoky Mountains National Park bans campfires due to high fire danger (Courtesy: GSMNP)
Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) Until further notice, those enjoying the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will have to do it without campfires or charcoal grills.
Park officials announcing the ban Thursday afternoon, saying it applies to both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides of the park.
The restriction comes as several wildfires break out across East Tennessee, including in Pigeon Forge.
Officials add that campers, backpackers and visitors can still use gas stoves provided those stoves have an on/off switch.
Wildfire burning in Pigeon Forge near Dollywood (Courtesy: WVLT)
Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) UPDATE 11/16 4:45 p.m.: The Pigeon Forge Fire Department and the Tennessee Department of Forestry continue working a wildfire that sparked ahead of 3:00 Thursday afternoon.
Representatives with Dollywood have now reopened entry into the park after a temporary suspension for roughly thirty minutes Thursday. An announcement from park officials on ‘X’ says “Dollywood entries are no longer suspended and turnstiles are open for all guests.”
UPDATE: The Pigeon Forge Fire Department and the Tennessee Department of Forestry are on the scene this afternoon of a wildfire near Dollywood.
Officials say the fire is burning in a heavily-wooded area near E. Ridge Road and Veterans Boulevard. They say structures were threatened by the blaze but that bulldozers had responded to set up a fire perimeter. As of 3:30 today, officials say a line had been established around the fire.
Representatives with Dollywood have now suspended entry to the theme park while they work with agencies to monitor the situation. Dollywood is about a 10-minute drive from the site of the fire.
There is currently a burn ban in Sevier County. People in Sevier County can sign up for emergency fire alerts straight to their phones here. The state also tracks wildfires here.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Pigeon Forge Fire Department and the Tennessee Department of Forestry are on the scene this afternoon of a wildfire near Dollywood.
Officials say the fire is burning in a heavily-wooded area near E. Ridge Road and Veterans Boulevard. They say structures were threatened by the blaze but that bulldozers had responded to set up a fire perimeter. As of 3:30 today, officials say a line had been established around the fire.
The Dollywood theme park is about a 10-minute drive from the site of the fire. Park officials say they are monitoring the situation, but there has been no change so far to park operations.
MEDIC is still trailing the Kentucky Blood Center in the 38th Orange and Blue Blood Drive.
Day three totals are in and Kentucky still has a slight lead in the competition which runs through tomorrow (Friday). The center collecting the most products in five days will take the trophy.
Donors will receive a special edition t-shirt, $10 e-gift card, ticket for Fantasy of Trees, and coupons to Smoothie King, Dunkin, Texas Roadhouse, Salsarita’s, Petro’s, and Papa John’s.
Farragut home damaged after owner burns in barrel during drought conditions (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire)
Farragut, TN (WOKI) A home in Farragut is heavily damaged after a fire in a burn barrel spread to the residence Thursday morning.
Rural Metro fire officials say firefighters responded to the scene of a house fire on Grisby Chapel Road at Woodchase after they received a call reporting the fire shortly after 11:30.
Once on the scene, firefighters found fire coming from the back of the house. Officials say crews were able to extinguish the flames within 20 minutes and keep most of the fire damage out of the main part of the house.
No one was injured in the fire, but the home did sustain heavy damage.
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Eight people have been displaced from their apartments following an early morning fire Thursday in the 7000 block of Nature Trail Boulevard near Karns.
Rural Metro fire officials say crews responded to the scene shortly after 8:00 to find three apartments heavily involved with fire spreading to the last two and the attic. They say crews were able to stop the spread before the blaze reached other units.
The American Red Cross is assisting those residents who have been affected by the incident. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
At least one person has died and an investigation is underway following a fire at Forrest Ridge Apartments.
Fire Investigators were dispatched to r the 2900 block of Tyler Jacob Way yesterday (Wednesday) morning and the victim was taken to the Knox County Regional Forensics Center for examination.
At least one person has died and an investigation is underway following a fire at Forrest Ridge Apartments.
Fire Investigators were dispatched to r the 2900 block of Tyler Jacob Way yesterday (Wednesday) morning and the victim was taken to the Knox County Regional Forensics Center for examination.
The Cherokee National Forest initiates Forest Wide Fire Restrictions prohibiting building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire outside of developed recreation areas.
The Tweed Fire is still burning in the Cherokee National Forest in Cocke County and is 60% contained affecting over 500 acres.
The Buck Bald fire in Polk County is also 60 percent contained and affected almost 600 acres. These two fires are being investigated as possible arson.
The Bullet fire in Monroe County near Etowah remains at 103 acres and 20 percent. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
In Scott on Smokey Creek Road that fire is 60% contained and is affecting almost 2,700 acres.
Rural Metro Fire crews are called to a wildfire in the Gibbs area Wednesday. Fire officials say the fire spread to around two acres before crews were able to contain it. Officials say the fire was caused by someone burning in a barrel.
People in Cumberland County are back in their homes this morning after 36 people had to be evacuated. Officials say two duplex style buildings were destroyed in yesterday’s fire, 8 units in total. The fire is 100% contained after burning nearly 300 acres on Renegade mountain near Crab Orchard just outside of Crossville.
An illegal burn in Pigeon Forge causes a large brush fire along Sugar Mountain Way on Sugar Mountain. That fire is 100% contained this morning after the call came in last night (Wednesday), one cabin has been damaged and three others were threatened.
Contained does not mean that the fire is completely out officials say you may notice some smoke that could linger over the next few days.
Rural Metro fire crews working a house fire Thursday in Farragut (Courtesy: Rural Metro Fire on X)
Farragut, TN (WOKI) Rural Metro fire crews are on the scene of a house fire in Farragut on Grigsby Chapel road at Woodchase. Fire officials are asking people to please avoid the area.
WOKI is also getting reports of traffic backing up, in both directions, along Grigsby Chapel Road.
