A large brush fire in Tennessee’s Wears Valley has sparked evacuation orders in the community and closure of several roads. High winds and dry conditions reportedly sparked the wildfire.
The blaze spread in the Hatcher Mountain Road and Indigo Lane area, local media reports said Wednesday.
The Sevier County Emergency Management Agency urged residents in Hatcher Mountain Road, Indigo Lane and Shagbark or Preserve area to evacuate. Authorities also set up a shelter at Pigeon Forge Community Center, 170 Community Center Drive in Pigeon Forge.
“Anyone within a 1-mile radius of Indigo Lane in Wears Valley should evacuate immediately. This includes but is not limited to anyone on Hatcher Mountain Road and any roads that lead off of Hatcher Mountain Road,” the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency said in the evacuation notice.
Earlier Wednesday, Sevier County warned of a strong storm system approaching. Due to low humidity and high bursts of wind, a red flag warning was established.
The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for the mountains with sustained winds anticipated between 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 80 mph.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park also issued a high wind warning and stated it planned to close several roads across the park. Newfound Gap Road, between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, was closed at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“At this time, the high winds are anticipated to affect primarily the Tennessee side of the park,” the park wrote on its Facebook page. “Road closures may occur earlier than expected and additional roads may close as conditions warrant… Hikers are advised to avoid hiking during this time period across the park, particularly in areas with standing dead trees.”
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has asked the Tennessee Army National Guard to help fight the fire by air, according to Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, the director of public affairs for the Tennessee Army National Guard.
Officials with the Tennessee Division of Forestry, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier County Fire Department, Seymour Volunteer Fire Department, the Pigeon Forge Fire Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Waldens Creek VFD and the Wears Valley VFD are all responding to the scene.
