Some evacuations underway as brush fires burn near Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Officials reported the fire destroyed over 1000 acres on Wednesday and at least 35 structures were either damaged or destroyed.
Watch: Smoke rises over wildfire in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Smoke is seen rising over a wildfire in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Wind gusts have been in excess of 40 miles per hour Wednesday.
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. -- One person has been injured and evacuations have been ordered as a significant brush fire burned near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Officials reported the fire destroyed over 1,000 acres on Wednesday and at least 35 structures were either damaged or destroyed.
Firefighters said they have not gotten any containment around the blaze because of gusty winds.
The fire was burning in a very popular tourist area.
"It's a very small place," said Jim Whaley with Hearthside Cabin Rentals. "We go from having 6,000 people here, and then on a weekend and there will be 200,000 people here."
There is no word what sparked the fire.
Heavy rains were expected Thursday morning but until then, strong winds were to continue.
"We're just praying for that rain," Whaley said.
(Sevier County Emergency Management)
Evacuations are taking place in the Hatcher Mountain Road and Indigo Lane area, along with Black Bear Resort off of Lost Branch Road, according to Sevier County emergency managers. An evacuation shelter was established at the Pigeon Forge Community Center.
Evacuations were ordered in parts of Gatlinburg and later lifted after a downed power line ignited a 1.5 acre brush fire.
It happened in the Ownby Hills and Hidden Hills subdivisions. An area around the fire, inside the border of Glades Road and Proffitt Road was evacuated as a result of the fire. No structures were destroyed, and no injuries were reported.
"The City is grateful for its first responders from the Gatlinburg Police Department, the Gatlinburg Fire Department, and other outside agencies which responded to the fire," Gatlinburg City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle said. "We are also thankful no structures were destroyed, and no one was injured and that everyone heeded the evacuation orders."