Tag Archives: wildfires

Park officials warned campers and backpackers in the Smoky Mountains backcountry that campfires are temporarily banned and spring water sources dry due to drought conditions. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced a temporary ban on backcountry campfires effective immediately. Due to abnormally dry weather conditions, the potential for wildfires to occur in the backcountry has dramatically increased. The fire ...

Burn bans are in effect for much of Sevier County to reduce risk of wildfires due to hazardous dry conditions. Lack of rainfall and low humidity prompted burn bans within the city limits of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville this week. Sevier County Emergency Management officials cannot issue a burn ban countywide without a proclamation by state officials, but asked ...

The City of Gatlinburg and Sevier County will hold a memorial ceremony in observance of the one year anniversary of the Wildfires. The ceremony will honor those who lost their lives, recognize first responders and give thanks for the progress made on the community’s recovery in the year following the disaster. The ceremony will also include an announcement about a ...

Appalachia Service Project dedicated two newly constructed homes in Gatlinburg to wildfire victims earlier this month. The organization is building new homes as a part of their disaster recovery efforts in Sevier County after wildfires swept through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge in November of 2016. The fire killed 14 people and destroyed over 2,800 ...

Like a Phoenix out of the ashes better then ever, Chalet Village is starting the journey to become a Firewise USA™ Community to make the whole mountain safer from wildfire. Chalet Village will host a Firewise informational meeting 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 at the Chalet Village Owners Club located at 1319 South Baden Dr. ...

The Mountain Tough Recovery Team named long-time Sevier County tourism leader and volunteer, Barbara Joines, the new Executive Director effective Oct. 30, 2017. Joines most recently served as Senior Vice-President/Chief Operations for Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment. She worked for The Dollywood Company for 30 years and retired from the company as the Vice President/General Manager of the Dollywood theme park. In ...

Mountain Tough Recovery Team case managers will begin meeting with those in need of services during the recovery process from November’s wildfires. Mountain Tough begins a two-pronged effort to help those in need take the next steps in their recovery on Thursday, June 1, 2017. First, Mountain Tough will open its new office and begin offering case management to those ...