GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WTHR) - A fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is causing evacuations in Gatlinburg and surrounding areas.
Downtown Gatlinburg and some areas of Pigeon Forge are under mandatory evacuation orders due to the fires, which are driven by wind gusts. School buses have been dispatched to help those needing to evacuate.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says officials in the Gatlinburg area estimate that about 100 homes have been damaged or destroyed by flames from spreading wildfires.
Officials say the wildfire has set 30 structures ablaze in Gatlinburg, including a 16-story hotel. TEMA says no deaths have been reported, though one person was burned while evacuating.
Officials say there are about 1,200 people sheltering at the Gatlinburg Community Center and the Rocky Top Sports Park. Several other shelters have opened to house those forced from their homes.
WBIR-TV reports that 29 hikers have been rescued from the area during the overnight.
Officials say the fires pose a serious threat, although rain has begun to fall early Tuesday morning. Fire crews say the heavy rain will help slow the fast-spreading fires. Thankfully, there have not been any fatalities reported due to the fires.
"We urge the public to pray. We urge the public to stay off the highways. The traffic that is on the roads is emergency equipment. If (the public) could just stay home and stay tuned to their local media outlet," Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said at a 8:30 p.m. press conference.
Fire officials say the fires are being aided by low humidity and windy conditions. Trees falling on power lines are helping spark more fires.
Earlier Monday, ashes were reported to be falling from the sky in Gatlinburg and some elementary school students were moved to another facility.
"It really looked like it was orange outside. It looked like it was plainly orange, like someone spilld a bunch of paint in the smoke and released it in the air," said one resident.
The fire started November 23, forcing several roads and trails in the park to close. By Monday afternoon, it had grown to about 500 acres in size.
Resident turns to Facebook Live
A Pigeon Forge resident has gone viral with a series of videos showing the fire and smoke in Pigeon Forge.
Vicky Cowden started posting videos around 7 p.m. Monday after officials began ordering evacuations.
"Gatlinburg is being evacuated..... this is HORRIBLE," she wrote.
The attached video, which she recorded while driving by a forest fire, has been shared over 200,000 times on Facebook:
Cowden later posted videos showing the heavy smoke covering the area.
