2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires
The 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, also known as the Gatlinburg wildfires, were a complex of wildfires which began in late November 2016. Some of the towns most impacted were Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, both near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The fires claimed at least 14 lives, injured 190, and is one of the largest natural disasters in the history of Tennessee.
| 2016 Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires Part of the Southeastern U.S. wildfires | |
|---|---|
Smoke from the Chimney Tops 2 Fire | |
| Date(s) | November 23, 2016 – December 22, 2016 (EDT) |
| Location | Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier County, Tennessee, United States |
| Coordinates | 35.6289763°N 83.478327°W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 17,900 acres (72 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 14 |
| Non-fatal injuries | Unknown |
| Structures destroyed | 2,460 destroyed |
| Damage | US$2 billion in damages |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Arson |
| Perpetrator(s) | Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. |
| Motive | Negligence |
By December 12, the fires had burned more than 10,000 acres (15 square miles) inside the national park, and 6,000 acres in other parts of the area. At least 14,000 area residents and tourists were forced to evacuate, while over 2,000 buildings were damaged and/or destroyed.
One of the largest wildfires was the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres, and closed the Chimney Tops Trail.
The Great Smoky Mountains wildfires were the deadliest wildfires in Tennessee, as well as the deadliest wildfires in the eastern U.S. since the Great Fires of 1947, which killed 16 people in Maine. In addition, the fires were also the most deadly and destructive of the 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires.
American country singer and notable local resident Dolly Parton was among many notable figures to pitch in to assist victims.