The wildfire burning near Rocky Top has grown to an estimated 210 acres and is still 75 percent contained, officials with the Tennessee Department of Forestry said Tuesday.
“Forestry is back on scene this morning,” Anderson County Emergency Management Agency Director Brice Kidwell said Tuesday morning. “They are working to reinforce and clean up the lines they’ve dug over the last few days.”
Kidwell said the Division of Forestry had indicated they planned to do more “back burning” Tuesday to try to fully contain the wildfire that was first reported just after 6 p.m. Saturday. Because of the planned back burning, residents could see more smoke and hazy skies later Tuesday, he said.
Anderson County said the public can download the Anderson County E-911 app on their cellphones to receive updates from the scene about this fire. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Firefighters from several municipal and volunteer fire departments in Anderson County helped to fight the wildfire. However, they were released from the scene by the Division of Forestry on Monday.
On Sunday, Kidwell said no structures were in danger. The cause of the blaze was not known at that time.
Emergency personnel responded from Anderson County Emergency Management Agency, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Rocky Top Fire Department, Medford Volunteer Fire Department, Marlow Volunteer Fire Department, and Norris Fire Department.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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