Fire Crews End Operations as Rain Quenches English Mountain Fire

Rain showers on Wednesday brought an end to firefighting operations for the English Mountain fire.

The English Mountain fire was first reported to Sevier County dispatch on Friday night. Firefighters from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry have been battling the fire since Saturday, but the remote area and terrain made operations difficult. On Tuesday, Black Hawk helicopters dropped about 75 Bambi buckets of water on the fire.

Early in the day Wednesday, a crew of sixteen firefighters worked to improve and patrol fire lines, also monitoring areas still smoldering within the lines. It began raining about 5:30 p.m. and crews left at 6 p.m. after determining sufficient rain had fallen to bring the fire to 100% containment, officials said. No personnel will monitor the area through the night, but will return to check the fire area as needed. The fire burned about 220 acres. No structures were damaged.

Assistant District Forester Nathan Waters provides narration on this video from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry.

Photos and video: Tennessee Department of Agriculture/Facebook