jent103

For anyone heading to the Smokies this week - the park just announced that quite a few roads and trails are closed due to wildfires (the latest one near the Chimney Tops is apparently arson).

I haven't seen this update on the official web site (I may have just missed it), but their Instagram feed has been updated over the last few weeks with some info on the fire. Here's a link to the post this morning, which includes road and trail closures - notably Newfound Gap and Elkmont Roads and Chimney Tops, Rainbow Falls and Alum Cave trails, among several others.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNXGjYGB...=greatsmokynps

jent103

There's now an evacuation order for Gatlinburg and part of Pigeon Forge. This is astounding.

http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/l...ered/94535434/

Gretchen

I just heard the entire park is closed and they are even asking people to curtail cell phone use in order for emergency crews to have priority.

PaulRabe

Here it is from the horse's mouth:
https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
"Nov. 29 - Park officials have closed all facilities in the park due to the extensive fire activity, and downed trees. Park Headquarters is currently without power and phone services."

starrs

441 in Gatlinburg is closed to all but emergency vehicles. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. Amazing how quickly things turned overnight.

jent103

It's true, Gretchen - I've been watching Twitter for news from all sorts of sources all morning. The Sevier County fire chief apparently said the worst is over, but they're still fighting the fires and there's so much damage. There were a couple of videos of people evacuating that are hard for me to believe.

Here's a video from a spokesperson from TDOT around Ober Gatlinburg.

https://twitter.com/MarkNagiTDOT/sta...43308463398916

indyhiker

The cabin we rented in 2013 was destroyed. It was about a mile from Stoplight 3 in Gatlinburg. We spend a week somewhere along the park every other year or so; it's hard to imagine the extent of the loss.

Gretchen

There was a video on noon news taken by people IN hotels in Gatlinburg with the flames outside the window.
One guy said they had to break all the windows on the upper floors to let the smoke out--they were suffocating lying flat on the floor.
The video was chilling--they are safe.
It is raining in the mountains for a couple of days to come so hopefully that will help.