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Oak Ridge National Laboratory responded to Gatlinburg fires

Posted at 1:28 pm December 28, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-national-laboratory-fire-department-in-gatlinburg-incident-command-center-november-2016

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fire Department Chief Officers Daron Long, Larry Lewis, and Danny Parker (in navy polo shirts) are pictured above in the Incident Command Center. (Photo by ORNL)

 

By U.S. Department of Energy

The Great Smoky Mountains, which are normally wet and hazy, had been in a particularly prolonged drought when a fire started near a popular lookout several miles from the resort town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, just before Thanksgiving. Park officials warily watched the slowly spreading blaze, which was in nearly vertical and mostly unreachable terrain.

At the close of the holiday weekend, a weather system moved in, whipping up gale-force winds hours ahead of the rain. The wind supercharged the fire, driving eerie, thick smoke down the basin toward the town. By Monday night, the homes, resorts, and businesses surrounding Gatlinburg were in the middle of a firestorm as flames destroyed structure after structure. Downed power lines sparked separate fires.

On the evening of November 28, park and city officials reached out to firefighters in the region for support as flames engulfed entire neighborhoods. By the time quenching rains arrived, the 17,000-acre forest fire had burned 1,700 structures—many of them homes—and took 14 lives.

Firefighters from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, located about 50 miles away, were among those who answered the call. With an immediate go-ahead from the ORNL Site Office, the ORNL Fire Department, or ORNLFD, dispatched resources to assist responders in Gatlinburg and neighboring Pigeon Forge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Brian Johnson, Danny Parker, Daron Keesee, Daron Long, David King, Dennis Brock, Doug Eckard, forest fire, Gary Watlington, Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg fires, Great Smoky Mountains, Jeff Chambers, Larry Lewis, Mandy Lindwall, Maria McClelland, Mike Masters, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Fire Department, ORNL, ORNL Site Office, ORNLFD, Pigeon Forge, Randy Williams, Ryan Hargis, Shelia Hillard, Tony Bloyd, U.S. Department of Energy

Gatlinburg fires: Andersonville fire chief describes elevator rescue, driving through ‘gates of hell’

Posted at 12:50 pm December 26, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

burrell-andersonville-fire-department-westgate-lodging-gatlinburg-nov-28-2016

The Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department helped rescue two people trapped in an elevator in a burning building at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, pictured above, in Gatlinburg during the wildfires on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. (Photo via Roane State Community College)

 

Editor’s note: Many fire departments and emergency workers responded to help fight the wildfires and perform search and rescue during the deadly forest fires that burned areas around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge on Monday, November 28. Here are stories from two Anderson County rescuers who responded to the Gatlinburg fires, as reported by Roane State Community College.

‘We made our way through what looked like the gates of hell’

By Matthew R. Burrell

On the night of Monday, November 28, various Anderson County fire departments were asked to respond on mutual aid calls to the City of Gatlinburg. Of those departments, Andersonville responded with a crew of three and one pumper.

Once we arrived at the meeting point, we were sent to Pittman Center for staging. On our way to our assigned location, there were many thoughts of the unknown. We were bouncing several scenarios off of each other—from “what are we going to do to pass time if all we do is sit in the parking lot,” to how crazy it could possibly be and what we might encounter.

When we first responded, I made contact with the Gatlinburg Fire Department chief, and the intensity in his voice told me that it was bad. But once we hit the spur, we realized just how bad it was. We made our way through what looked like the gates of hell and then entered the city. There was a constant orange glow everywhere you looked. We were amazed at the devastation and at how many buildings were on fire. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Andersonville, Front Page News, Gatlinburg, Police and Fire, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County fire departments, Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department, Austin Vick, Chimney Tops trail, elevator rescue, forest fires, Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Fire Department, Gatlinburg fires, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, James May, LeConte Medical Center, Lonnie Poore, Matthew R. Burrell, Matthew Wilson, Pigeon Forge, Roane State Community College, Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort, wildfires

TBI: Two juveniles charged with arson in deadly Sevier County wildfires

Posted at 6:45 pm December 7, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Fire Department mitchell-rd Sevier County

People being removed from vehicles while Oak Ridge Fire Department crews helped respond to the Sevier County wildfire starting Monday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. Dec. 8.

Two juveniles have been charged with aggravated arson in connection with the deadly wildfires in Sevier County last week, authorities said Wednesday. The fires burned more than 17,000 acres around the Chimney Tops trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Wears Valley. Fourteen people died, 176 were injured or made ill, and more than 2,400 structures were damaged or destroyed.

Local fire departments and law enforcement agencies responded to help fight the fires and provide search and rescue help, among other aid. The fire in the park, the most heavily visited in the United States, and the nearby tourist towns has been described as the largest in Tennessee in at least 100 years.

The charges announced Wednesday afternoon were filed after an investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; National Park Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or ATF; and the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Police and Fire, Tennessee, U.S. Tagged With: aggravated arson, arson, ATF, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, ChIME, fire, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, James Dunn, National Park Service, Pigeon Forge, Sevier County, Sevier County Juvenile Detention Center, Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, TBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Wears Valley, wildfires

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department K-9s help with Gatlinburg search

Posted at 12:48 pm December 6, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

k-9-gatlinburg-2

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department K-9s helped search Gatlinburg after forest fires fed by hurricane-force winds raged through that tourist town and areas around the Chimney Tops trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Wears Valley, and Pigeon Forge on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, burning 17,000 acres, killing 14 people, and damaging or destroying more than 1,700 structures. Pictured above is Deputy Candy Stooksbury and her K-9 partner Barnabas. (Photo by ACSD)

 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Candy Stooksbury and her K-9 partner Barnabas, a specially trained bloodhound, have helped in the search efforts in Gatlinburg after forest fires fed by hurricane-force winds raged through the tourist town last week. Corporal Rick Coley and K-9 Justus, and Deputy Matt Forsyth and K-9 BamBam, have also helped.

The deputies and K-9s helped the Knoxville Police Search And Rescue Team and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in the search, rescue, and recovery mission, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said Tuesday.

Other local agencies also responded to the fires, including Anderson County EMS and fire departments in Anderson County. (See this previous story for more information.) The Oak Ridge Fire Department helped rescue 12 people trapped in cars surrounded by fires near the Dollywood theme park near Pigeon Forge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, BamBam, Barnabas, Candy Stooksbury, forest fires, Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg search, Justus, K-9, Knoxville Police Search and Rescue Team, Mark Lucas, Matt Forsyth, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Pigeon Forge, Rick Coley, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Wears Valley

Oak Ridge firefighters help rescue 12 people trapped in cars surrounded by fires near Dollywood

Posted at 3:03 pm November 30, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

People being removed from vehicles while Oak Ridge Fire Department crews helped respond to the Sevier County wildfire starting Monday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley)

People being removed from vehicles while Oak Ridge Fire Department crews help respond to the wildfires that raged across Sevier County on Monday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge firefighters helped rescue 12 people and four dogs from three cars surrounded by fires behind Dollywood near Pigeon Forge on Monday.

The 12 visitors had been staying in rental cabins behind the Dollywood theme park.

The rescue happened at about 11 p.m. Monday after wildfires fueled by high winds spread from Chimney Tops in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Gatlinburg area.

Before the rescue, an Oak Ridge Fire Department crew, along with five Maryville firefighters, had responded to several fire-related situations in Pigeon Forge, most of them in the Dollywood area, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. Pigeon Forge is near Gatlinburg.

At about 11 p.m., the firefighters were dispatched to Mitchell Road to help a man trapped in a cabin with fire all around him. But firefighters were unable to get there because the road was blocked by downed trees and power poles, the press release said. Firefighters began cutting trees until they encountered downed power lines and transformers.

Once Sevier County Electric System workers arrived and cut electrical power to the area, the crew again entered the fire area to rescue the man, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fire, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: Bill Haslam, brush fire, City of Oak Ridge, Darryl Kerley, Dollywood, fire, forest fire, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, James Jordain, Jordan Alcorn, Mark Watson, mutual aid, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Fire Department, Pigeon Forge, rescue, wildfire

More information on local firefighters, law enforcement responding to Gatlinburg fires

Posted at 4:27 pm November 29, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

clinton-fire-department-in-gatlinburg-2-nov-29-2016

The Clinton Fire Department is pictured above responding to the fires in Sevier County on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016. (Photo by Clinton Fire Department)

 

We have more information on local firefighters and law enforcement that have either responded to help fight the fires in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park—or remain in standby in case they are needed.

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas and other officials said Andersonville, Claxton, Clinton, Marlow, Oak Ridge, and Oliver Springs fire departments all sent resources to the fire.

Anderson County EMS sent its mass casualty response vehicle on Monday night, and they sent three ambulances Tuesday morning, Lucas said.

Lucas said he talked to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals on Monday night, and Anderson County deputies are on stand-by in case Sevier County needs additional law enforcement personnel. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Andersonville, Claxton, Clinton, Front Page News, Marlow, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Police and Fire, Roane County, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County EMS, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Andersonville, Bill Haslam, Claxton, Clinton, emergency management, fire, Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Mark Lucas, Marlow, Oak Ridge, Oliver Springs, Pigeon Forge, Ron Seals, Steve Payne, Terry Frank, wildfire

Here are places you can drop off supplies to donate to firefighters

Posted at 2:35 pm November 29, 2016
By John Huotari 2 Comments

great-smoky-mountains-national-park-firefighters-nov-29-2016

Firefighters are pictured above in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week. (Photo by Great Smoky Mountains National Park)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:45 p.m.

There are a number of places you can drop off supplies to donate to the firefighters battling destructive blazes in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Here are several, with two in Oak Ridge, one in Clinton, and one in Roane County: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Clinton, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Roane County, Tennessee, Top Stories Tagged With: American Red Cross, Clinton Police Department, donation drop-off, fire, firefighters, Gatlinburg, Gatlinburg Fire Relief, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, High Places Community Church, Oak Ridge High School, Pigeon Forge, Roane County High School, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, supplies, Tom Giles

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Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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