Evacuations lifted near Great Smoky Mountains National Park wildfire

Joyce Orlando, USA TODAY NETWORK
Updated ·3 min read
2

Wildfires raging in East Tennessee forced emergency voluntary evacuations overnight in Blount County.

The Townsend Area Volunteer Fire Department announced emergency evacuations of homes along Old Cades Cove Road in Townsend around 3 a.m. Tuesday morning due to the wildfire at Rich Mountain Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Officials also called for voluntary evacuations of other areas, which have since been lifted.

The wildfire started Nov. 20 near Rich Mountain Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and spread to 5-7 acres quickly, the national park said in a news release on Monday.

Counties along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line are under a red flag warning, meaning the region is at an increased risk of fire danger. With ongoing burn bans, officials have warned residents and visitors to stay alert and be prepared to move quickly if a fire starts up.

Where were homes being evacuated in Townsend, TN?

Townsend firefighters and the Blount County Sheriff's Office announced evacuations along Old Cades Cover Road at the intersections of Dry Valley and Lequire roads up to the park line early Tuesday morning.

There was also a call for voluntary evacuations for other homes along:

  • Lequire Road

  • Lail Lane

  • School House Gap Road

  • Rich Mountain Road

  • Portions of Dry Valley Road

  • Portions of Old Cades Cove Road

  • Portions of Little Springs Road

The call for the evacuations was lifted around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Where are the evacuation centers in Townsend?

Shelters have been set up at Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church at 7322 Tuckaleechee Road and RIO Townsend at 325 Webb Road, according to the fire department.

Rich Mountain wildfire grows

Overnight, the Rich Mountain wildfire on the park's border near Townsend grew to 6 acres.

The fire is in "steep, rugged terrain," the National Park Service reported in a news release. Helicopters dumped water to help stop the flames, and continue to fight it today.

At 8:50 a.m., the Towsend Volunteer Fire Department released a new update on social media.

"The National Park Service and TN department of forestry are cutting lines around the fire in the National Park, and it is under control at this time. The wildland fire off of Carr’s Creek Rd has been contained and the TN department of Forestry is cutting a line around it. No structures were involved and no structures are currently in danger. The voluntary evacuation is still in (effect) at this time," read the Facebook post.

Wildfires and smoke map for East Tennessee

Wildfire smoke map: Track fires and red flag warnings across the US and Tennessee

Road and space closures at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Severe weather, dangerously high winds and a red flag warning have caused several closures in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds and most park roads are closed to protect visitors, employees and park resources.

Here are roads that are already closed or will close Tuesday:

  • Clingmans Dome Road

  • Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

  • Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley

  • Little River Road between the Townsend Wye to Sugarlands Visitor Center

  • Laurel Creek Road and Cades Cove Loop Road

  • Cataloochee Road

  • Lakeview Drive

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee wildfire in Great Smoky Mountains prompts Townsend evacuation