Gatlinburg Fire Prompts Voluntary Evacuation of Neighborhood

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter to serve local residents of Mynatt Park endangered by the Gatlinburg fire.

Gatlinburg Fire officials report that a spot fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Twin Creeks Picnic Pavilion off Cherokee Orchard Road that flared up just before noon on Monday, combined with the low humidity and the windy conditions, have created a threat to the Mynatt Park neighborhood. While the fire department is making preparations to protect that neighborhood, Gatlinburg Police officers are going door to door asking residents to voluntarily evacuate to the American Red Cross Evacuation Shelter set up at the at the Gatlinburg Community Center located at 156 Proffitt Road. Residents needing transportation to the shelter may request assistance by calling the Gatlinburg Police Department at 865-436-5181.

Park officials say they do not know if the Twin Creeks fire is a spot fire stemming from the Chimney 2 Fire, or if it is an independent ignition.

The National Park Service expects more fire growth in the park over the next eight hours with the potential for spot fires to form outside of the fire area. The fire department will continue to monitor the situation and the Tennessee Division of Forestry staged equipment in the Mynatt Park community.