Rain helps quell fires in Tenn. as tollhits11
Crews discover the remains of four more people as they search the rubble of wildfires that torched hundreds of homes, bringing the death toll to 11.
GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Crews discovered the remains of more people as they searched the rubble of wildfires that torched hundreds of homes and businesses near the Great Smoky Mountains, bringing the death toll to 11, officials said Thursday.
Authorities set up a hotline for people to report missing friends and relatives, and after following up on dozens of leads, they said many of those people had been accounted for. They did not say whether they believe anyone else is still missing or may have died.
“I think it’s fair to say that the search is winding down,” Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said. “And hopefully we will not find any more.”
He said the searches likely will be completed Friday.
Nearly 24 hours of rain Wednesday helped dampen the fires, but officials struck a cautious tone, saying people shouldn’t have a false sense of security because months of drought have left the ground bone-dry and wildfires can rekindle.
The trouble began Monday when a wildfire, likely caused by a person, spread from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into Gatlinburg as hurricane-force winds toppled trees and power lines.
More than 14,000 residents and visitors were forced to evacuate, and the bustling tourist city has been shuttered since. At least 700 buildings in the county have been damaged.
“Gatlinburg is the people; that’s what Gatlinburg is. It’s not the buildings; it’s not the stuff in the buildings,” Mayor Mike Werner said.
Starting Friday, homeowners, business owners, renters and lease holders will be allowed to go see most of their Gatlinburg properties, said City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle. The city is hoping to open main roads to the general public on Wednesday.