We were still asleep when it happened. That said, we are now in the rebuild mode. To echo your statements, the information is out there, a model exists on how to properly do it now its getting the proper training for all of the professionals involved and the public taking the role of accountability watchdogs. I wonder when NPS actually put out a request for Incident Management Team support. Not sure on how the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid infects our truly awesome and beautiful Hemlocks, but I do know that the Balsam Wooly Adelgid, the non-native insect that has helped to lay waste to the equally magnificent Fraser Fir forests such as found on the highest peaks Clingmans Dome, Mt. Sunset that day was at 5:21 p.m. which would have allowed them to drop on the fire until 5:51 p.m., 30 minutes after sunset. Anyone can arm chair quarterback incident manager decisions after the smoke clears. When peoples towns and lives are at stake, letting a fire burn or hoping to get lucky is a tough sell. Take my word for it, Ive seen back scratching going on down there for over 40 years. I have for years pointed out to my students the dead hemlock all over the mountain. That said, it is always easier for those outside of the forest to see the big picture then those who are standing inside the trees down on the forest floor. Four downtown Gatlinburg businesses are picking up the pieces, after a fire Sunday morning destroyed their building. When the rain started again at 8 a.m. the relative humidity rose into the 90s. The electricity goes out almost everytime there is a high wind. Common since would tell you a mountain fire in wind and drought would move very fast!!! Chile is nearly a third world nation. Try to stay neutral I understand; but the NPS has a track record of avoiding accountability. Spirit Airlines . The coolness and the moisture were gone. 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. The wildfires caused millions of dollars in damage. Every business downtown was closed except for Bubba Gumps. Good point, Ms. Horton. Mother nature always bats last Sad chain of eventsonce again. The Gatlinburg ByPass is also closed. I visited Gatlinburg on a trip to Asheville NC, in 1980. The wind and the low visibility caused by the smoke made it impossible to fly aircraft over the fire. What really was going on here? The forecast issued Sunday included this text in the Discussion section: High pressure will hang on for Sunday with sunny skies and above normal temperatures. When human death is involved, there should be accountability, even if there is unintentional negligence. Even if the new construction doesnt suffer from the eventual degradation of the old foundation, years after you have rebuilt and want to sell your cabin, due to prior disclosure malls when you tell a prospective buyer that your foundation went through the 100 year fire which burned your foundation at 1400 to 3000 F, only a fool would buy it. Report: Gatlinburg fire caused $7 million in damages. It was so blatant and irresponsible of the media station to broadcast in this manner especially under the current circumstances. It is now time for aircraft (usually helicopters) to start washing the fire off the hill. Questions are powerful tools, but only when we allow them to be asked, we receive them with an openness and willingness to be vulnerable, and seek to answer them openly and without fear of reprisal. Thanks! I viewed aerial photos of that area over the past 10 years (on USGS website). May all the people find peace and forgiveness in the midst of this storm. I am just saying that it is not necessary to lynch someone in order to hold them accountable. NPS officials are looking to avoid tort liability claims, plan & simple. CNN A wildfire burning near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee, has grown to more than 3,700 acres and impacted more than 100 structures, County Mayor Larry. Tunica, MS, from our area near Kansas City, to arrive late evening, that day, in Tunica. As it turned out the sprinklers were far above affordable means and way outside the parameters quoted by the NFPA for the cost of a standard sprinkler system so we did not get them. They didnt and now its the property owners problem, they havent offered any clean up assistance, free dumping fees, no permit cost to rebuild, and certainly no financial help. My wife and I hiked to Alum Cave Bluffs Saturday, Nov. 26, while the fire was small up on the Chimneys. The fire broke out around 6:30 a.m. at the mall on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg. By definition, prescribed burning is described as fire applied in a knowledgeable manner to forest and grassland fuels on a specific land area under selected weather conditions to accomplish predetermined, well-defined management objectives, pg 2, http://www.southernfireexchange.org/etc/ITPFISE.pdf. We listened to local TV news at home which reported voluntary evacuations for Mynatt Park after fire was reported in the Twin Creeks area. Much of the southeastern United States had been suffering extremely dry conditions for two to three months. I was truly astounded at how well coordinated the IMT teams are they cover it all, firelines, backburns, aircraft, field communications, weather forecast, community information via meetings/Facebook/Blog page/Twitter with daily updates, pre-evacuation notices when wind events were predicted. I know that because of my experience, my training, my ongoing learning and situational awareness of a host of related and seemingly unrelated knowledge. I picked them up and came back home with plans of bringing truck back over mountain and filling it up because it was near empty. Holding the responsible people accountable is the only course of action that honors what was lost. I had heard that many of the stumps and rotted out trees had become abnormally dry because of the drought. I have my own opinion on what I would do if I ruled the world but I can guarantee you two people that would be looking for work very soon . But if park management had been spending budget on fire management capabilities equal to those sites there would likely be criticism of that. All of the big trees were gone (although younger trees had been treated and saved). On Sunday evening we discussed with Gatlinburg friends the forecast for high winds on Monday, so I disagree with local Gatlinburg officials that they were caught by surprise. This come from long time residents, The prices we have been getting should be considered price gouging because that is exactly what it is. Damage was estimated at. I think thats pretty cut and dry and yes its their fault that they didnt at least try and do something. Despite that, officials now say that the Gatlinburg fire began in the park and was. All rights reserved. By NPS rules a watch should have been kept on the fire overnight Sunday, but such did not happen. Firefighting resources assigned to the fire include 25 hand crews, 61 engines, 6 helicopters, and 2 dozers, for a total 780 personnel. Millions of dollars will be spent recovering and mitigating the after effects of this human caused and exasperated wildfire. I can only hope that the actions are being undertaken somewhere and by the decision-makers and leaders to think and act differently. She has given me permission to share it on this site. What about firefighter safety? Where is his accountability? A high-elevation area that possessed the largest unbroken Spruce-Fir forest in the S. Appalachians. They must be invited in by the state, so the bureaucracy and border silos are at issue here too. The helicopter worked until it had to refuel and then two other Type 1 helicopters took its placeuntil dark. NPS manager Cassius Cash said the NPS didnt have the authority to order an evacuation (how about recommending a pre-evacuation status so the public was ready to evacuate if needed?). I repeat The NPS and the Fire Chief of Gatlinburg should have started fighting the Chimney Tops 2 fire aggressively the day it was discovered. I was in my cabin on 28 November and barely made it out alive. I told him we would come pick him up in his car. Thus, private, State, or other agencies get left holding the bag, as it were. How did I know that? Also. Its hard to see. Unfortunately, Im not optimistic about the inter-agency review. Then and only then will He let you effectively manage His creation that He has allowed you to be a part of for a short time. I would like to express that there are sincere and dedicated folks working for the National Park Service. These folks do this often in situations in which they have little control over much of the situation or outcomes. A guy in the red pickup rolled down his window and said You have to get out of here! My husband and I turned around, drove back to the Parkway and out the Spur to Pigeon Forge. And no doubt books both factual and not on this event. LeConte is going to be fine. Experience must be coupled with training and planning based on forecasted possibilities and even un-forecasted what ifs. You may have a point regarding lawsuits, reported actions and actual actions. Yes government at all levels needs to be held accountable; otherwise we regress back into the Dark Ages. This would explain why they are all covering for each other. The IMT reported that the fire had not increased in size over the previous 24 hours and was still listed at 17,006 acres. I dont know details as to the trail. How Gatlinburg attempted to notify its residents to evacuate as the fire burned into the city, http://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/tennessee/2016/12/13/timeline-gatlinburg-wildfires/95138656/, http://www.southernfireexchange.org/etc/ITPFISE.pdf, Long bushfire season wears down firefighters in Queensland and Western Australia, Community near Heppner, Oregon first in Morrow County to earn Firewise designation, County Cork fire brigades work through the night on gorse fires, Renewed call for the Holy Grail of firefighter tracking, Hiker owes $300,000 for Arizona wildfire he started. The Gatlinburg fire chief should be FIRED. All rights reserved. Prescribed burning is a critical ecosystem management tool across the nation, especially in the Southeast (https://goodfires.org/how) and when the term is used interchangeably with monitored wildfires it can lead to confusion. As my husband was carrying things to the car at 5:00PM, a white SUV came by. On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9. I told him I would call fire department in Gatlinburg across from Food City. Bill, correct me if I am wrong, but aircraft should be on the ground a half hour after sunset? At this time, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials were contacted, according to the report. Ash move in quickly after a fire, and through the yearly process of shedding their leaves, make it difficult for seeds from the Red Spruce/Fraser Fir/Hemlocks to make an effective seed-soil contact, thus when we lose one of these magnificent evergreen forests, it truly is a tragedy in more ways than one. There will be legal repercussions because of incompetence. My writing comes from the heart! A mandatory evacuation should have been issued, at the latest, Monday morning, with reverse 911 calls, as well as loudspeaker equipped vehicles. You do not hang your child or throw them out for, with good intention making the wrong choices, you teach them and help them to understand the consequences. The 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire was deadliest in the eastern half of the U.S. since the Great Fires of 1947 in Maine and the worst in the history of Great . And . Yes, there is backside-covering going on. Hire an independent fire behavior consultant to assist in PLANNING and timely response if conditions appear to be coming into (fire) alignment. The learning system of resolution. You certainly got it right when you said that sometimes government does not listen and it takes a loud voice. Published: Oct. 11, 2022 at 5:31 PM PDT GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - Four downtown Gatlinburg businesses are picking up the pieces after a fire Sunday morning destroyed their building. I dont have the statistics to prove what you wrote is incorrect, but I am convinced that it is not a fact to say most of the fires that are monitored (as opposed to fully suppressed) escape outside the agencys borders. We are facing some very large problems around our globe and in our own home communities, that will require some out of the box thinking and collaboration, some tough questions, and a lot of personal accountability review and growth. OF COURSE the dead hemlocks (and spruces and firs) are changing the picture for fire danger. However, an event such as the Gatlinburg fires undoubtedly leads to a can of worms that some folks would rather just sweep under the rug. I feel sad for everyone involved. Ive learned so much on this blog over the past 6 weeks about how forest fires are managed and fought and Im most grateful for that. I began to notice people smoking while driving their vehicles when I would be out and about and they would flick burning embers out windows and sometimes throw cigarettes out windows. However, firebe it a wildfire, structure fire, flammable liquid fire or a a bi-nine campfire does not care or worry about budget cuts, staffing issues, political agendas, experienced or inexperienced decision making or other human factors. The successes, and the losses, the poor decisions, the mistakes, the error and the failures. Case in point is our European religious history. However, they are using a Super Tanker to douse the flames going on down there. The fire continued to spread throughout the entire structure. Here is one interview I gave to a Cincinnati station 2-3 days after the fire. Just looking at media coverage on the evacuation order public messaging snafu points out that this fire will provide many lessons learned for future fire managers. I have here a firsthand account of how a homeowner, who lost her house, lived through the days before the fire and through the fire. Why? because poor, inadequate human decision making allowing basic fire physics, fire chemistry and TIME to align resulting in avoidable death and destruction! Ive not had a chance to hike post-fire areas in the mountains yet to see fires effect on dead hemlocks, but what Henry said about dead stumps burning into the ground looking like a volcano rings true with what Ive witnessed in mountain forest areas that burned decades ago. On Monday, December 5, the Incident Management Team (IMT) on the Chimney Tops 2 Fire that burned from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) into the Gatlinburg area reported that it has . Tom. It now seems obvious that no housing development should have only road in and out. Drought, fall winds, fuel moistures that havent recovered in months, what part of this disaster was a surprise. It took the governor to get the lack of evac into the open, as local gov was trying to keep it out of the press. Anyone who has toured the hillsides where most of the homes that were destroyed would know immediately how difficult evacuations would be. Hit it with all you have the Moment it breaks out. This fire was supposedly set On November 23rd, we were hiking there on November 25th, they had the trail blocked off closer to the top of the Chimneys 2, however we made pictures of the fire and it and the picture shows the smoke going straight up in the air, no one was there and it didnt look like they had done anything to contain it. Everyone knew how dry it was. My husband and I were at our house in Gatlinburg, just north of the Park Vista, on the night of the fire. Monday I was surprised to look at the Knoxville News and see nothing about evacuation notices. If we are so quick to remove those who are learning from their experience, successes and failures, do we not lessen the potential to create and benefit from more experts who will have more knowledge and wisdom to apply to future events? The Spur between Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg is open from Pigeon Forge to the Gatlinburg Welcome Center. I can feel for the service providers and the devastated fire victims. I agree with you Bill that it isnt Most but whether it is a few or many isnt the point for me. 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. All without the but why reflection, cause and effect analysis, drill down technique and the inter-relationship effect. The age of information is both eye opening and scary, the potential for manipulation is astounding! @wvlt pic.twitter.com/P7roVBCq8B. An in depth investigation should be launched and the (ir)responsible parties identified. It is not just officials who have not caught up with the new climate reality, it is the general public and those in the path of fire. They strive to their utmost and have a true passion working in GSMNP. The report stated the demolition was requested due to the health and safety of the citizens and visitors in the event of a full structure collapse.. The two juveniles who set a fire are not alone in this. Not every fire manager gets the benefit of a meteorologist in your hip pocket, but there are many good weather websites available. That didnt happen here. Fires in the Great. Below is a comment I posted from New Sentinel article about Gatlinburg fire, Wildfire Today something that undoubtedly should be investigated as well as compared to their actions of the 23rd to 28th Chimney Tops Fire 2: Officials are evasive and vague about the 1st Chimney Tops Fire. A lot of chainsawing has been going on. Officials keep repeating that nothing like this has ever happened here before so they cant be responsible. So who would you blame the people that died, wildlife and homeowners. Accountability! Both east and west forks of the Pigeon River. I agree that there needs to to be a change of attitude about climate change, wildfire potential in the east, an adaptation to changing conditions and a throwing out of the holding on to the been there done that, know all there is to know, seen this before thinking and the holding onto a world that used to be. I seriously question if bias will be discreetly worked into this agency and their review of the fire?? Politics, as we know can cloud even a clear sunny day!!! It is no wonder that the people do not trust Government. At 10AM we drove to Sevierville to buy more materials (to eventually add to the bonfire). Thanks for your rundown on the fire Bill. He told me he was scared to drive the truck-its a lot more cumbersome in the local terrain than his little Outback. Our house was in a direct N/S line from the Chimneys. I think anyone that is from this area could see this could be a very dangerous fire from the first day!! I later learned that Sevier County pays for an emergency notification system called Code Red Alert. This appears to be the case once again. Three people were killed and 14 others sent to area hospitals, Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said Tuesday. I hear of those who didnt leave until 9:00 that night. Yes my house burnt along with 520 others in North Chalet Village, village no longer but all foundations. The deaths in this incident can be attributed to being trapped and forced to shelter in place. If that was the case, then they had to be fully aware that the fire was going to come down the mountain and burn not only NPS structures, but Gatlinburg structures as well? and see if he could get any information. Also important is accountability, so is teaching, learning and experience, so is action, so is on and on. Thats why I refused to use a local contractor. There is much to delve into in resolving the causative factors of this disaster and the fire and park service are only a part of that equation. Ms. Schroer told us that additional firefighters were ordered on Sunday. You are correct in pointing out the dead hemlocks. I thought if we were have to leave we could take both vehicles to our friends house to sit out the night. The leafless trees allowed more sunlight to hit the fuel, drying it out even more. The man at the Forestry base told him the winds were predicted to keep getting stronger and to be careful of falling limbs. Narrowing it down to human-causes is easy for an investigator. Not because I am a teller of fortune. I hope the report gives the reason why the tanker planes were never called in since they are co-managed by the NFS and NPS. One good place, James, to view an area after a devastating wildfire is adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway in and around the 418 milepost-the Graveyard Fields/ Shining Rock Wilderness areas. Anytime that one side seeks to destroy the other as opposed to actually raise the issues, I would raise a red flag and wonder what the distraction is really trying to hide! Hemlocks were mentioned in a number of daily updates on Inciweb because they are basically standing roman candles thanks to the spiral of limbs. The chain reaction that if un-inhibited can create the perfect storm, block the perfect solutions or that can lead to the ignition of possibility and opportunity. He asked them how or who we could contact to get emergency information. I was in my cabin on 28 November and barely made it out alive. Jeannines comments were spot on. China Bazaar, Puckers Sports Bar, Cafe 420,. The further fire growth part was more accurate than they realized at the time. We had loaded dog and Abram in car, out of smoke and told them to stay put. Yes, there had been many fires in the southeast during the 6 to 8 weeks before the fire started in Great Smoky Mountains NP, but it is my understanding that at that time they had diminished and there may have been significant firefighting resources available.
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