Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) A fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that broke out last month has grown again.

Park officials providing an update Thursday say The Flint Gap Fire which was sparked by lightning on August 26 has grown to 58 acres, a 12 acre increase since the last update from the park earlier this week.

According to the park, the fire is smoldering rather than actually burning, and recent rainfall has helped stem it from growing even more. Officials are warning though that there is room for concern as the fall season looms, with falling leaves offering an opportunity for the fire to continue spreading.

“While fire activity is currently minimal, there is a potential for increased burning as leaves drop and weather conditions change.,” the park said. “Despite some rain this week, precipitation levels remain low and no significant moisture is forecasted for the next several weeks. In preparation of changing conditions, fire staff continue to execute a full suppression strategy.”

Visitors may see more firefighting equipment near the Abrams Creek area, the park said, as crews continue to fight the fire and clear pathways to make it easier to get into the area where the fire is burning.

As of now, the fire is uncontained, but there is no threat to campgrounds or any structures. Parson Branch Road, several trails and backcountry campsites remain closed due to fire activity.

Greene County, TN (WOKI) Sixteen Greene County middle school students are facing charges after posting a TikTok video reenacting a school shooting.

Officials with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office say “the video shows several juveniles re-enacting what appears to be a school shooting with a title of ‘to be continued.'”

They add that “the video was posted on TikTok and was shared by several others before being removed from the platform.”

GCSO says all the students attend South Greene Middle School, and they are slated to appear in juvenile court.

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knox County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help identifying a man whose body was found more than year ago in West Knox County.

KCSO says deputies were called to 325 Walker Springs Road around 4:30 on Saturday, August 5, 2023 for the report of a dead person near the wood line on the property, adjacent to the Ten Mile Greenway.

At the time, investigators found that the body was too decomposed to be identified, transporting it to the Regional Forensic Center for more examination.

KCSO says there were no signs at the scene of foul play, and the victim, from what could be gathered at the scene, was not assaulted. Officials add the cause and manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Forensic Center. 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the Knox County Regional Forensic Center are asking for help identifying the man. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jeremy McCord in the Major Crimes Unit at 865-215-2243.

Gatlinburg, TN (WOKI) The U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee voted, unanimously, today (Wednesday) to change the name of a popular spot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It’s the latest development in a years-long effort to rename Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi (Coo – Woe – HE), the traditional Cherokee name for the mountain which translates to “mulberry place.”

Clingmans Dome was named after U.S. Senator Thomas Clingman, and the first name change happened in 1859.

The effort to restore the name was in part pushed by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which says the act of naming the mountain Clingmans Dome was disrespectful and racist.

Arnold Guyot, a geographer and professor, named the area after Clingman. Since then, Guyot has been accused of advocating for “scientific racism,” a point of view not uncommon at the time.

In a release issued Wednesday, the National Park Service said [it] “strongly supported the name restoration and applauds today’s decision, which also received support from local communities and governments.”

“The Great Smoky National Park team was proud to support this effort to officially restore the mountain and to recognize its importance to the Cherokee People,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “The Cherokee People have had strong connections to Kuwohi and the surrounding area, long before the land became a national park. The National Park Service looks forward to continuing to work with the Cherokee People to share their story and preserve this landscape together.”

The proposal was submitted in January of this year by EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks following an effort started in 2022 by Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe, both enrolled EBCI members, to restore the traditional name of the summit.

 Kuwohi is one of the most popular sites in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with more than 650,000 visitors per year. It is the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River, officials with the national park said.