Anderson County wildfire expands to 397 acres, but 85% contained

The wildfire burning near Rocky Top, Tennessee, grew to 397 acres, but was 85% contained as of Wednesday morning, the Tennessee Department of Forestry website showed. Forty-one workers are tackling the wildfire, trying to bring it under control.

"Forestry is back on scene this morning," Anderson County Emergency Management Agency Director Brice Kidwell said Tuesday morning.  "They are working to reinforce and clean-up the lines they've dug over the last few days."

Kidwell said the Division of Forestry indicated they planned on doing some more "back-burning" Tuesday in efforts to fully contain the wildfire that was first reported just after 6 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release.

Members of the public are reminded that they may download the Anderson County E-911 app on their cellphones to receive updates from the scene about this fire. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The wildfire that began Saturday and was concentrated in the Andy's Ridge and Walden's Ridge areas near Rocky Top, and also Scott Brogan Lane in the Dutch Valley community has reportedly not damaged any buildings or injured any people. Volunteer firefighters, as well as firefighters from Rocky Top, Clinton, Norris and Oak Ridge were involved with the battle against the flames, in addition to the state forestry division. All but the state firefighters were sent home Monday.

A separate wildfire, the 475-acre wildfire in the New River community was contained earlier this week, according to the forestry division website.

The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.

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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Anderson County wildfire expands to 397 acres, but 85% contained