what caused the fire in gatlinburg in 2016heart 1980 tour dates
Artists confirmed for Mountain Tough include the Zac Brown Band. RELATED: Woman, children with local ties die in Gatlinburg wildfire The fire was the state's deadliest in more than a century. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. Anyone still wishing to help the folks in Sevier County affected by this weeks wildfires, please consider making a monetary donation to one of these three organizations: If you already have collected donations, please schedule delivery by calling 865-804-1658; deliveries of water can be scheduled at 865-368-9013. Another smaller fire sparked near Seymour on Thursday but was 60% contained of Sunday afternoon. [23], Two unnamed juveniles were initially charged with aggravated arson in connection to the fires; however, charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence as well as language in an agreement between the State of Tennessee and the Department of the Interior which excluded state jurisdiction from prosecuting criminal activities that occurred entirely within the park. We also saw Several cabins on fire. After 5 days of the fire spreading around the northern part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into Gatlinburg, it was finally contained. Home Travel What Caused The Gatlinburg Fire. What was destroyed in the Gatlinburg fire? However, the extreme drought conditions meant there was a massive amount of highly flammable fuel throughout the region. Sadly, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Hillbilly Golf is a victim to the regions wildfires. Tears flowed as we watched it unfold on the news. The fire left behind a mosaic of heavily burned, lightly burned, and unburned landscapes.Jun 23, 2021. The National Park Service (NPS) monitored the Chimney Tops fire. Where To Hike In The Smoky Mountains Other That Gatlinburg, Quick Answer: Where Is Gatlinburg Located, Quick Answer: What Caused Notre Dame Fire. It affected an estimated 2,400 buildings. [Click to show containment area map], The initially established containment zone for the fire around the Chimneys, Thursday, November 24: the fire's current range within the containment area, Saturday, November 26: the fire had spread but still remained within the containment area. We continue to come to Gatlinburg frequently. (WVLT) - On Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, a fire began on the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Severe wind gusts of over 80 mph, unprecedented low relative humidity, and extended drought conditions caused the fire burning in the National Park to spread rapidly and unpredictably, in spite of suppression . We are frequent visitors to Gatlinburg, and had left town the morning of the fire. 321 was stalled for over an hour while they cleared a firetruck with a downed tree on it. The Gatlinburg fire of 2016 began in late November - the day before Thanksgiving - on Chimney Tops Trail in a period of extreme drought. Still, officials were in communication with the NPS. Now, three years later, the Smokies are recovering. Did Cades Cove burn in . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. On May 24, 2018, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on behalf of victims seeking damages for the failure to stop the Chimney Tops 2 fire before it left the park. The video is of them leaving. I live in Oregon now but my heart will always belong to the Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee. Update at noon Tuesday: Tennessee Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies is intact, according to Gatlinburg officials. On Wednesday, November 23, 2016 a hiker on the popular Chimney Tops Trail managed to capture a photo of two teenage boys dropping lit matches on the trail despite the current no-burn order in the area. Large swaths of the forest that burned in November of 2016 have yet to completely heal. The Southern Area Red Team assumed command of the Chimney Tops 2 Fire today, Wednesday, November 30th, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. I am so disappointed in the way this was handled. Instead, the city contracted for limited PIO services with the Convention Center and Visitors Bureau. The Real Story of the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016. Just like everything else these days, Where is the parenting?!?!? "[27][28] But later, the federal government worked to dismiss lawsuits looking to hold the Federal Parks responsible for failure to contain the fires in the federal parks, brought forth by the residents of Sevier County. Extraordinarily dry conditions, combined with a wind storm with hurricane-like power and a problematic fire in a hard-to-reach spot at the Chimney Tops, created hell on one of the prettiest places on Gods Earth. I cant imagine living it. PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Dec. 3, 2016)The Pigeon Forge Distribution Center at 149 Cates Lane has been receiving donations from across the country this week. Both face charges of aggravated arson but prosecutors said they would not rule out other charges or options, including seeking to have the suspects tried as adults. Those boys who started the fires should have been sent to adult prison for the lives they took by starting those fires.but, I guess when your daddy sucks up to certain people and does certain things you can get away with anything. Those boys still started the initial fire. Such a beautiful place in all of Gods creation to have to go through that. The four days prior, the air had been full of smoke and ash, even in downtown Gatlinburg. We were there shortly after and it was so sad. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Under non-drought conditions, at least some experts had been warning officials that not allowing smaller fires to burn up fuel on the forest floor would lead to worse wildfires in the future. When two juveniles were arrested on December 7 and charged with aggravated arson, many people assumed they had the answer. Tourists, locals and officials were mindful of the fire, which brought smoke and ash into the city. A popular tourist destination was engulfed by . We grabbed everything and headed out the door. City officials kindly request that no new donation collection efforts begin until the current supply is reduced and additional storage space becomes available. We finally made it out of town stopped at a gas station bathroom and met people who had evacuated from the hotel. At least 300 structures have been affected by the fires, which could mean anything from a burnt porch step to an entire cabin destroyed. 14 people But we will never forget the lost lives. That evening we were on the deck and the winds were fierce. I was so glad to see the community pulling themselves back together. The video posted by Michael Luciano was incredible because compared to us they were rather calm, I couldnt imagine being calm enough to hold a camera. I knew something was wrong, really wrong, when the winds changed. At this time the fire was still within the defined containment boundary. Chimney Tops fire was not a natural occurrence. Thanks to the Newsteam at WBIR TV for posting all the coverage they did. The fire started on November 23rd in the Great Smoky Mountains. They were the cause and it was dropped because of the position of one of their fathers. Im curious to know if the NPS was sued by the families who lost loved ones and the businesses who suffered damage or loss. Theres a video filmed by a man named Michael Luciano of him and Anthony Fultons desperate escape from Chalet Village. Our car was basically trashed, but our lives were spared. Defense attorney Gregory P. November of 2016 brought the largest wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks history, marking the largest natural disaster in Tennessees history. Dry conditions, wind and a hard-to-reach fire created hell on earth in 2016 The fires caught local and federal officials unprepared The fires caught local and federal officials unprepared It sadly claimed the lives of 14 people It sadly claimed the lives of 14 people And caused millions in damages And caused millions in damages Of course, they. Investigators had previously said the fire started around Nov. 23 on Chimney Tops Trail before spreading into Gatlinburg, Sevier County and Pigeon Forge. All of 3 of these decisions were made by the NPS in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years. 2016 Great Smoky Mountains Wildfires Deaths 14 Non-fatal injuries Unknown Perpetrator(s) Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. However, Parton's Dollywood - which was gravely threatened by the Gatlinburg Wildfires in 2016 - is safe. But when I drove around the Southern end of Sevierville, I looked around and I could see haziness and orange. The law does allow for the 17-year-old to be tried as an adult if a Juvenile Court judge grants the transfer. Just FYI, "[29], Commenting on the devastation, country music star Dolly Parton (originally from Sevierville) said she was "heartbroken". Crushed when l saw and heard of so much damage. It took 3 Mother and daughters had run from their home in the Chalet Village community after they watched a neighbors house burst into flame. They should have been held accountable to some degree. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WJHL) It has been now five years since the deadly wildfire that ravaged Gatlinburg Tennessee. The quick actions of many of the areas firefighters, police and EMS workers saved lives, but often they were operating without enough information. (WJHL) It has been now five years since the deadly wildfire that ravaged Gatlinburg Tennessee. "We are experiencing extremely dry conditions throughout the park and we are asking for the public's help to prevent uncontrolled wildfires," Chief Ranger Steve Kloster said at the time. Heres a rough timeline of what occurred: Lets start a few days before the fire. The whole mountain across the river was on fire. Gatlinburg officials say several areas are being evacuated as a result of fires in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, a fire began on the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As the donors intended, hopefully these items will help lighten the burden of those in need.. Authorities recovered their remains near a home not far away on Wiley Oakley Road. I couldn't imagine not having a home here and now a permanent resident living along side my bear family and other wildlife . After watching his video I almost feel like I had PTSD, but it gives me more perspective on how lucky we were. Browse all Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg condos. I would recommend people living in areas with any chance of wildfire to invest in a quality full face respirator that will filter smoke and fine particles. The G-burg fires remind me of the ole adage, We are from the Government, trust us, we are here to help. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The legal battles continue as of this writing in 2023. Fourteen people were killed and 200 more were injured. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel,the two boys are friends and live in Anderson County, Tennessee. The generosity of our community and others across the state of Tennessee and beyond is simply more than we could have ever imagined, said Pigeon Forge City Manager Earlene Teaster. Gatlinburg is a strong town. A National Weather Service report issued on Sunday predicted wind gusts up to 40mph the following day. Strong southerly winds (with wind gusts up to 87mph) created by mountain waves[19][20] blew sparks into the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas and knocked down trees (which in turn started fires when they hit power lines). Motive Negligence. detailed cleanings to ever get the fire smell out of the vehicle. fire investigators have arrested seven suspects, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Inspecting the damage, firefighters said the putt-putt has been completely destroyed. For one reason or another their house was spared, but all of them around them were destroyed. What caused Gatlinburg fire 2016? According to an independent report by the ABS group, as late as 4:30 pm on the 28th, models provided by the Pigeon Forge Fire Department indicated it would take 19 hours for the fire to reach the city limits. Even if investigators could conclusively prove the boys started the Chimney Tops fire, it was the windstorm that proved to be the driving force behind the disaster. The wind also created large clouds of smoke, making it impossible for air support to intervene. All rights reserved (About Us). We were in Chalet Village when the area was engulfed in flame and smoke. To this day I stress out over this. However, under Tennessee law, aggravated arson is not a qualifying offense that would allow a judge to transfer the 15-year-old to adult Criminal Court. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). Especially saddened by loss of life. Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Our family was in the fire. Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said firefighters were already battling a 3-acre blaze on Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when wind speeds picked up and shifted. Some of the towns most impacted were Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, both near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That was my great nephew, Tony, driving the truck and his best friend, Michael, shooting the video. Although the resort itself was not damaged by the Nov. 28 fire that swept through the city, the homes and businesses along Ski Mountain Road leading up to Ober Gatlinburg were hit hard by the fire many burned to the ground. This is a Very true story that I hope to never ever repeat. It was one of the largest natural disasters in the state of Tennessees history. After the fires, Dolly Parton stepped up and organized massive fundraising. Gatlinburg and Sevier County burned Monday night, Nov. 28, 2016. . The cause of the Hatcher Mountain Wildfire and the Millstone Gap Wildfire that burned thousands of acres was caused by downed power lines, according to officials. sources close to the investigation told the Knoxville News Sentinel. These responders were arriving throughout the unfolding of the firestorm, requiring staging, coordination and deployment. It is a blessing to us to pay this forward by establishing a distribution center to serve all of our Sevier County neighbors and visitors who have been affected by recent wildfires. Then around December, I went down to Tennessee with my parents and a sister, and I could see fire just about everywhere. Most everything above the color line was burned. (WVLT) - On Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, a fire began on the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I wasnt there when this fire happened but I watched on tv news. So I wasnt surprised by the fire itself. Defense . The pledge to fund it would be at least $3 million. A lot of my life was spent in the Smokey Mountains. Come see us! Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. February 2021: new growth on Baskins Creek Trail, November 2020: burnt trees on Bullhead Trail, November 2020: new growth appearing on Bullhead Trail. What started the fire in Gatlinburg Tennessee 2022? The fires claimed at least 14 lives,[5][6] injured 190,[7] and is one of the largest natural disasters in the history of Tennessee. In other words, messages sometimes did not reach the intended recipients due to a combination of factors. Our heart goes out to the people who lost their lives. Family and friends were worried about what direction the fires were going. 2016 wildfires that occurred in Sevier County, Tennessee, United States, 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires, "National Park Service failed to warn residents in deadly Gatlinburg wildfires, judge rules", "1 year ago, a 'whole mountain on fire' forever changed Gatlinburg", "Two juveniles charged with arson in deadly Tennessee fire", "Gatlinburg Residents Get First Look at Destruction Left Behind By Wildfire | The Weather Channel", "The Latest: Death toll from wildfires increases to 14", "Death toll in Sevier County still rising", "Great Smoky Mountains fires leave three dead, 'scene of destruction' | Reuters", "Fires Near Smoky Mountains Prompt Mandatory Evacuations in Tennessee | NBC New York", "Gatlinburg evacuated after Great Smoky Mountains National Park fire", "Slideshow: Great Smoky Mountain Wildfires | Fox News", "Death toll rises to seven in Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains fires | The Gazette", "Gatlinburg wildfires: Thousands evacuated from Smoky Mountains resort", "US 441 in Smokies, trails close for 500-acre fire", Tuesday marks 1-year anniversary of deadliest wildfire in Tennessee history, "When Maine Burned: Remembering 50 Years Ago", "Dolly Parton Provides Fire Victims 'Shoulder To Lean On', "A mesoscale simulation of a mountain wave wind event associated with the Chimney Tops 2 fire (2016)", "On High Winds and Foehn Warming Associated with Mountain-Wave Events in the Western Foothills of the Southern Appalachian Mountains", "Analyzing the fire that burned into Gatlinburg", "Firefighters raced to Gatlinburg, only to find some hydrants were running dry", "Gatlinburg wildfire records tell story of chaos, confusion", "Two juveniles charged with arson in Tennessee wildfires that left 14 people dead", "Attorney: Arson charges against teens in fatal Gatlinburg wildfire dropped", "Judge issues order allowing release of some records in Gatlinburg wildfires", "Donald Trump Tweets About Tennessee Wildfires", "President-elect Donald Trump's 'thoughts and prayers' with TN amid wildfires", "Gatlinburg, TN residents escape 'firestorm', "Gatlinburg fires: Dolly Parton's resort under threat as hundreds flee Tennessee wildfires | The Independent", "Nashville TV station airing live star-filled telethon for Gatlinburg victims", "6 months after wildfire, Gatlinburg area getting back on its feet", "Dolly Parton Is Hosting a Telethon to Help Tennessee Wildfire Victims", "Sevier Co. officials encouraging visitors: "If you want to help, come visit us", "Looking Back | 1 Year After the Gatlinburg Wildfires", "UT professor studying financial, emotional impact of 'My People Fund', "Lawsuit seeks millions in damages for Michael Reed, other Gatlinburg fire victims", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2016_Great_Smoky_Mountains_wildfires&oldid=1132265811, 21st-century mass murder in the United States, 2016 natural disasters in the United States, December 2016 crimes in the United States, November 2016 crimes in the United States, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles tagged with the inline citation overkill template from December 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. We could only pray for the people. Please see the list of much-needed items here: http://mypf.social/pfdonationneedsdec1. All rights reserved (About Us). Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. Winds gusting over 60 miles per hour fanned the flames and pushed the fire into Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the surrounding areas. Do you remember the Gatlinburg fires of 2016? I spent many days and nights in tears for the people that were my neighbors. Some busy signals occurred due to the abundance of radio traffic and the lack of available radio frequencies. We were in the Cobbly Nob section of Gatliburg decorating our rental cabin for Christmas. The scene is now buried in my mind. The fire resulted in the deaths of 14 people and more than $500 million in damage, with firefighting costs of more than $7 million. It was being treated as a normal fire. [21], Because of power outages to some pumping stations on November 28 and because other pumping stations burned, hydrants quickly went dry on November 28, and Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller first asked for help from all of Sevier County and later from the entire state. Thank you Smoky Mtns for being the strong, resilient community you are. However, the speed at which it spread and the damage to human and animal life was shocking. It was getting worse to breathe. Yesm I remember it and I remember the pain I felt and the tears also! 8 GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and injured another. What Caused the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016? The area was already under a no-burn order due to an ongoing drought conditions. In recent weeks, fire investigators have arrested seven suspects in connection to wildfires set in the state and Homeland Security officials have pledged to use the full force of the law against anyone found guilty of setting a fire. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. But the mountains still keep calling us back and I left my shoes. A lack of early notice was the most critical failure of all. Ultimately, hurricane-force winds blew embers from the park into Gatlinburg and the gusts downed power lines, sparking more fires. [33] Her fund, the "My People Fund", provided $1,000 a month for six months to over 900 families affected by the wildfires, finally culminating with $5,000 to each home in the final month due to increased fundraising, for a total of $10,000 per family. Above: The strong gusts of wind picked up embers from the Chimney Tops 2 fire and wildfires began to appear on the western ridges of Mount LeConte, toward the Twin Creeks picnic area, and eventually into Gatlinburg. A couple of years later, he opened a post office inside his store, which resulted in changing the name of the town to Gatlinburg. My father Myrl Carr said he didnt get a phone call or a knock on the door for a warning. The key is to learn from those mistakes and prepare for the future. As smoke overwhelmed the building, Christa Fordan feared death. The Gatlinburg Fire Map 2016 expanded overnight as the Tennessee Fire Map grew through Pigeon Forge. I'm still cutting and removing some burned down trees. Them all brush fire caused a lifetime of pain for some including death. Ultimately, nothing can fix the problems of the past. Volunteers are needed to staff the facility for the next few weeks Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Heres Our Top 7, Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? The fire claimed the lives of 14 people, injured an estimated 190 people and caused millions in damages and devastation. To date, there are 7 confirmed fatalities and 700 confirmed structures lost (300 in Gatlinburg, 400 in other parts of Sevier County). The dry, windy conditions made for the perfect storm - setting off a blaze that burned more than 15,000 acres, killing seven people and damaging or destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. The day the sky turned red and yellow, the wind howled, and almost the whole East Tennessee valley started to smell the burning I knew that the night and morning would bring massive death and destruction. President Barack Obama ordered federal disaster relief funds to go to the hard hit area of Sevier County in response to the vast devastation. THE BEST WAY YOU CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT: You can help us most by visiting with us! Published: ; Dec. 08, 2016, 12:05 p.m. First of all, radio communications overloaded the Sevier County radio system at times. (WHSV) November 28th, 2016 is a day many in east Tennessee will never forget. thesmokies.com. Our suggestion is to GIVE DIRECTLY" to 3 accounts: PLEASE KNOW: these 3 accounts/funds are setup and administered by The City of Pigeon Forge, The City of Gatlinburg and The Dollywood Company, and all (100%) of the money will go to help aid the families displaced by the wildfires. Dolly Parton heartbroken by raging wildfire that causes Dollywood to close. Noting that the region is a "special place" in Tennessee, he said "millions of families have come here and will continue to come here. On May 24, 2018, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on behalf of victims seeking damages for the failure to stop the Chimney Tops 2 fire before it left the park. [8][9][10][11][12][13][excessive citations], By December 12, the fires had burned more than 10,000 acres (15 square miles) inside the national park, and 6,000 acres in other parts of the area. Make sure to get full face because that smoke will have your eyes burning and without eyesight your chances of making it out go down drastically. Police have not said if they have a suspect related to the Chimney Tops fire. Gatlinburg, TN. How many people died in Gatlinburg 2016 fire? The unholy concoction of conditions created a perfect storm. Authorities considered the fire to be "human-caused.". Who was responsible for Gatlinburg fire? It was called the Sparks wildfire and it was an approximately 7,000 acre wildfire near Bryson City, NC. what caused the fire in gatlinburg in 2016. funeral speech for grandpa from granddaughter / fish for pond stocking near me / what caused the fire in gatlinburg in 2016. what caused the fire in gatlinburg in 2016. A time our family will never forgot. However, by the time a federal judge dropped the charges six months later, some had lost focus on the fire. Note: This post was originally used to update the community as the events of the Gatlinburg fire 2016 took place. Heres What You Should Know, 29 Best Restaurants in Pigeon Forge, Ranked [2023], Great Smoky Mountains National Park Entrance Fees, What You Should Know, Smoky Mountains in March: Events in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge [2023], A Simple Guide to Smoky Mountain Parking Passes, Park it Forward. November of 2016 brought the largest wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks history, marking the largest natural disaster in Tennessees history. After 5 days of the fire spreading around the northern part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into Gatlinburg, it was finally contained. When we got to Knoxville, I would watch it on the news, because my family owns a vacation cabin in Townsend, just two miles from where the Walland fires were burning. Monetary contributions also may be sent to Citizens National Bank, attention: City of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg & Sevier County Relief Fund, 200 Forks of the River Parkway Sevierville, Tennessee 37862. Michael Reed lost his wife and two daughters in those fires back in November 2016. Deadly Gatlinburg fire started by teens tossing lit matches on ground: Reports. Does the TV Show Make Real Moonshine? Three victims died together Constance Reed, 34, and her two daughters, Chloe, 12, and Lily, 9. Communications within the EOC, although at times noisy and extremely busy due to the scope and scale of the Chimney Tops 2 firestorm, remained fluid and effective based on the information being received. The region was in the midst of an exceptional drought. The facility will be staffed and open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. As folks begin to rebuild, these donated items provide for many of the necessities in the coming weeks, Teaster added. At least 300 structures have been affected by the fires, which could mean anything from a burnt porch step to an entire cabin destroyed. However, it was no normal fire. Even as officials in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevier County assess the damage caused by a massive wildfire, the question of how the blaze started continues. And knew the Reeds met them a week before the horrible fire and it broke my heart KNOXVILLE, TENN (WLOS) A year and a half after the deadly Gatlinburg fires, one victim is now suing for negligence. The following Monday morning of November 28, maintenance crews discovered that the containment area had failed, and the fire had spread across 250 acres - 10 times as big as it was the day before. We had been assured that there was no danger, and everything seemed to be business as usual. In Gatlinburg, smoke and fire caused the mandatory evacuation of downtown and surrounding areas, according . The Roaring Fork Baptist Church is being rebuilt and is almost complete. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Throughout the afternoon and evening of November 28, numerous fires developed in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas as a result of wind-driven sparks or downed power lines. We lost both my aunt & uncle in the fire and by the grace of God my 3 cousins survived after time spent in the burn unit at Vanderbilt. Brush caught fire. That persons attempt to keep the public notified through traditional means was severely hampered by power outages from the fire and storm. "[38], The impact of the "My People Fund"'s financial relief, as well as the overall impacts of the disaster on residents, was studied by University of Tennessee College of Social Work professor Stacia West, who examined the impact of cash transfers in poverty alleviation. The very early decision by the NPS to let the fire burn itself out was one of the major contributors to the size and scale of the destruction. We ran over a pretty thick tree and almost got stuck on the way but managed to reverse out of there, when we reversed we hit a tree with the rear of the car but got unstuck from the front, luckily our bags didnt deploy and the car was still operable. Just after the fire, 31 miles of hiking trails were closed indefinitely due to fire or wind damage.
