What is these adults had taken immediate action to correct and intervene in this unsafe behavior by children. The massive Gatlinburg wildfires, which began in November, caused the deaths of 14 people, injured 175 others and destroyed homes and towns all around eastern Tennessee. Thats exactly what I plan on doing and recording the calls so that if they dont take action they an explain to the public why after getting all of these calls with people pleading for them to take action. I have an Gatlinburg address but the county services my street. For the most part, the issues are with the Upper Brass. Good points about differentiating between prescribed fire and the wildfire. http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2016/12/13/timeline-gatlinburg-wildfires/95138656/. Why the Monday morning quarterbacks seems to always get it right, while those in the game make the errors and the scores, winning and losing. Thanksfully ATF agents helped TN Bureau of Investigation put their full resources at hand and arrested to two teenage idiots that started the fire. What did City officials not understand about the approaching danger? I wish some barracuda Attorney would take this on and represent the property owners in a lawsuit to try to recuperate some of our losses, any takers? Why were there so many wildfires being lit by arsonists all of a sudden this year? I would recommend reviewing Wildfire Todays post titled: NPS releases information about the Chimneys Tops Fire 2 as well as the post Analysis of wind, vegetation, and air tankers before the fire burned into Gatlinburg. Remembering the Gatlinburg Wildfires five years later - WBRC Thank you for the timeline and the opportunity for comments. It was considered a total loss after yesterdays fire. It is now time for aircraft (usually helicopters) to start washing the fire off the hill. We got a text message. Yet if no one raises cain about it, things will be rebuilt with no regard for such safety factors. Local officials dont seem to learn from past experiences, nor plan well for possible dangers. Experience in itself is never enough. This was part of our retirement plan and now all we have left is a lot, we lost a lot of money that we will never be able to recuperate. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1477959465566642&id=100000578092120. How many sorties could those planes do in an single day even if they had been deployed on Even Friday?? Hopefully all of those affected will be able to begin again. Back home in West TN, when tornado warnings were active in a particular area there were loud sirens that went off. Thanks again for your touching reply. The immediate flash of ground clutter was followed by the much slower burning of the dead and down trees and stumps. Gatlinburg fire: Body found in blaze rubble, cause of fire under Not to lay blame or punishment but as a real learning tool for improvement of service provision. The fire on Sunday caused extensive damage to a block of businesses and left some with only charred debris, news outlets reported, citing a statement from the city. Where is his accountability? They will be touched in their heart as deeply as anyone who has lost in the tragedy itself. The GSMNP officials were able dodge the negligence and management shortcomings of the 2000 fatal black bear attack in Elkmont as well as discrediting and slandering a former District Law Enforcement Ranger who was involved in the incident. I am here at the opportunity on a couple of occasions to speak to the Fire Chief of Ontario Michigan. I would like to insert the word, accountability into this discussion. Gatlinburg businesses look to rebuild after massive fire. Take my word for it, Ive seen back scratching going on down there for over 40 years. They just hurl mean criticisms and put downs from a safe distance Brene Brown. Alice Hagler was reported missing by her family and later confirmed dead. I was surprised that we saw no one at the closed Chimneys parking area early morning when we drove by. The one picture showing a PVC clean-out with charring on it is a very good example of a very fast, hot torch of flame blasting a relatively small area. 119K views 4 months ago GATLINBURG Many people get worried when they hear the words Gatlinburg and Fire in the same sentence. Were here to rally and support those people until they can get back up on their feet, said Laura Rippetoe of the Gatlinburg Inn. So because of his and other incompetence property owners are paying the price. How about that for arm chair quarter backing. 10/10/22, 1:56 p.m. I dont understand, but I dont judge. SOURCE Like this: Loading. Of course they wont. The status of individual structures in the Gatlinburg area can be found at arcgiscom. Photos: Fire in Gatlinburg, Tennessee | Photo Galleries | herald I realize some of my questioning is speculative and yet legitimate. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the GFD, Gatlinburg Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. We both were winded, nervous, and running to grab one change of clothes, night clothes, and tooth brushes. 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. Concerning the time the fire jumped 441. There is room for all to be as important as the other, and hold all of these ideals up at the same time, to honor and to debate. I left early to get boys and filled Stantons old Subaru Outback up with gas. milepost 316. Published: Dec. 24, 2022 at 10:17 AM PST GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and injured another. The blame is as simple as the nose on your face we have family that is firemen and friends that are and they too are trained in fighting fires and if they had contained it all of this wouldnt have happened. It is very steep terrain, I would estimate about a 65 degree incline, but it is not easy to fall to your death there. This article shows NPS was concerned by and notified of impending high winds. In all the Disasters I have worked in Texas, FEMA reimburse City or County for debris pickup. As long as there are watchdogs for the truth such yourself, it will be hard to bury. I was in my cabin the night of the fire and if I had spotted it a minute or so after I did I would not be alive to type this right now. Thanks for your rundown on the fire Bill. On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9. Wildfire experts have been warning local government officials about the potential for a fire of this magnitude for years. Rain began falling late Monday night and continued until 6 a.m. Tuesday, totaling 0.78 inch at Indian Grave. Those decisions had to be made with the best information available at the time not what we now know in post incident critique. Copyright 2022 WVLT. Beginningat 2 a.m. on Sunday November 27 the relative humidity at Indian Grave dropped,getting as low as 17 percent at 8 a.m. and then lingering in the 20s and 30s until 4 am on Monday November 28. It is a truism that many people want all the benefits of government, but dont want to pay for them. Virtually no one knows they have it and THEY DID NOT USE IT. Do arsonists typically work alone? The Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facebook page reported (on Monday 11/28 at 1046am) that gusting winds have caused the fire to spot across the ridges in the Chimney Tops and Bull head Ridge Area. This is a text book example of waiting for rain and not planning for WHAT IF! And on top of all that, they have teams that stay and clean up after the fires, repairing dozer and fire lines to reflect natural terrain, knocking down trees that would be a hazard to hikers and hunters, repairing the roads that heavy equipment damaged. Lets look in the mirror before we are too quick to blame someone else. It is truly appreciated. What caused the Gatlinburg wildfire? Your are correct; and we all pray and hope for the community to get back on their feet again. The 2 juvenile defendants have been charged with the fire of Nov 23rd, 2016; but there has been NO apparent media release by officials and investigators as to whether these defendants started the fire of Nov 14th, 2016? Why the Monday morning quarterbacks seems to always get it right, while those in the game make the errors and the scores, winning and losing. However, when adequate risk analysis, proactive contingency planning and decision making, real time fire behavior simulations predicting possible disastrous outcomes, humans may have a much better chance of containing, or controlling, or herding, or managing or all-out suppressing an unwanted or unplanned ignition. Ever since Hurricane Katrina, I have doubted the ability of our emergency managers to plan for any aspect of, or kind of disaster, and the fire in Gatlinburg only supports my concerns. I told her my concerns of fire, traffic, and falling trees blocking flow of traffic were there an emergency. Bob, I know where youre coming from. I agree, this has many players to blame and starts with Superintendent Cassius Cash and trickles down to the City and County. We would best not be blind until that time is upon us, as then it will be too late. This is how civilians, firefighters, personal property and extensive environmental damage results. Compare the events to their fire management manual and contradictions are present. The Seiver County Medical Examiner's office identified the man as 54-year-old Joe Martin Bates, according to the City of Gatlinburg. 'Human caused' Tennessee wildfires kill seven near Dollywood park Park Service has not issued any warnings and there are no active fires in Gatlinburg city limits. I ask her if they had plans of issuing a warning if evacuations became necessary and ask her how they would do that. Would be interesting to dig down to find the ash line (which is probably illegal on federal lands). It is unfortunate that in our society people who speak out with a loud voice, or otherwise make waves for the privileged, get not only scorned but categorically destroyed by well planned out and financed design, often full of cover-up and lies and then propaganda is feed to the rest of us, of which we often take for gospel, when in fact is often not based on evidence or fact. Limbs began to fall. I ran other errands and stopped by cabin to unload groceries before picking boys up from school. All without the but why reflection, cause and effect analysis, drill down technique and the inter-relationship effect. Birmingham City have had to close their training ground after a fire caused damage on Friday morning. I am trying to learn everything I can and hope to find an avenue to serve in this cause in some small way as most of you have and are serving in major, ways, risking your lives. Vincent Gabrielle, Knoxville News Sentinel. I believe God was speaking to me early in the day on 28th and I am grateful for the ability He blessed me with to get out of Gatlinburg early.. Body found in rubble of Gatlinburg fire - wtvq.com We shouldnt have expected anything else, I dont know what we were thinking. You are aware that Bill Gabbert the Editor of Wildfire Today spent a large part of his fire carrier with the Park Service where I believe he was served on a nationwide Type I IMT. I am broken-hearted over it .. At least one of them drove up the street below our house and parked there for about an hour. Second, why not attempt water drops and fire retardant despite their reasoning it wouldnt do any good. Fire erupts on both side of Highway 441 between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. 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. We all contribute to this phenomenon if not intentionally but unintentionally, simply by the design of our brains! On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9. Its incredulous that evacuation didnt go out then. Brought mine in from Texas. View Google or Bing aerial photos of the past year hundreds of dead trees with the tale-tell circular pattern of limbs stands out against the foliage. But it is good that you ask questions, and you should expect answers and a demonstration of learning, but you have to give that opportunity, just as you would want. He also raked as many leaves as he could from around our cabin. Thanksgiving weekend is one of the 4 busiest weekends for Gatlinburg and the National Park. These fires were allowed to cook with little or no suppression action. Their lack of extended skill training is apparent. Numerous photos show a dramatic increase in smoke in the downtown area between 5 and 5:30 pm. Im thankful to be tuned in. NO managing wildfire is much more complex, especially in a multiple fire drought driven incident like managers were dealing with on this incident. Good comments by all. We checked the Spot Weather Forecasts that were requested by the NPS and issued by the NWS for the Chimney Tops 2 Fire. A mandatory evacuation should have been issued, at the latest, Monday morning, with reverse 911 calls, as well as loudspeaker equipped vehicles. Kelly, Lloyd and anyone else that had home and/or businesses losses from the fire, tell everyone involved to write and/or call the governors office about what is going on. I knew him when he was at Indiana Dunes National Lake Shore. For almost 24 hours a day for 10 days or more, I read everything I could about Gatlinburg, and even found Wildfire Today during that Report: Gatlinburg fire caused $7 million in damages