DOLLYWOOD FIRE? REPORTED ON FOX AND FRIENDS

FOX AND FRIENDS, FOX NEWS ^ | Mar 18 2013 | Gretchen Carlson

[Yosemitest]

Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocy reporeted on Fox and Friends this morning, a large fire around Dollywood.
I searched the internet after watching their short videos that I found on Massive Pigeon Forge fire damages at least 35 cabins.
Here's what I found.



Massive Pigeon Forge fire damages at least 35 cabins, 2:43 AM, Mar 18, 2013

Brush fire won't affect opening of Dollywood park, Mar 17, 2013 11:05 PM

Fire breaks out near Dollywood, multiple agencies respond, Mar 16, 2013 7:51 PM, Updated: Mar 17, 2013 9:50 AM

Wildfire burns outside Great Smokey Mountains in eastern Tenn.; more than 30 cabins burned, March 18, 2013

Brush fire breaks out on Dollywood's property, Mar 17, 2013 10:32 AM

[Yosemitest]

Seems like someone keeps restarting that fire.

[Yosemitest]

Here's some more video.

[dforest]

I heard this, but the lady is not Gretchen.

[Yosemitest]

More video

[Yosemitest]

I just pulled the name off the web site , Gretchen Carlson.

[scrabblehack]

There were several foreclosures the past couple of years.

[Yosemitest]

Here's the earliest report of the fire, but supposedly they got that one under control.

Emergency crews surround brush fire at Dollywood
March 16, 2013 at 7:49 p.m. , updated March 16, 2013 at 8:52 p.m.

Fire crews have contained a 10-acre brush fire on Dollywood property tonight with no structures threatened, theme park officials said.

Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said about 80 firefighters responded to the fire, and a few will remain throughout the evening.

Sevier County E-911 dispatchers said fire crews were switching out to rest while others worked to contain the blaze.

Crews from all 13 fire departments in Sevier County were at Dollywood fighting the brush fire that apparently was started by the park’s train as it passed through some woods around 4:40 p.m., Sevier County E-911 dispatchers said.

Dispatchers said Pigeon Forge Fire Department crews initially responded and then activated the Wildland Task Force shortly after 6 p.m.
Crews from all volunteer and municipal fire departments in the county responded, as did the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency and the Forestry Division of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Owens said a bulldozer was brought in to knock down trees and brush to create a fire break.

Owens said the fire was in an undeveloped portion of the park and that the train was being tested.
While Owens said it appeared the fire was started by sparks from the train, the fire department will have to investigate to determine the exact cause, he said.

“The area where the fire started was in the upper most part of the train trip, going in the circle and coming back into Dollywood proper,” he said.

The park spokesman said it did not appear the fire would affect the season opening on Friday for season ticket holders and on Saturday for the general public.

More details as they develop online and in the Sunday’s News Sentinel.

[Einherjar]

“Ya gotta have a fire every so often to make a profit.”

Tony Mangioni

[Yosemitest]

I guessing arson, from someone who was very familiar with the area.

[Never on my watch]

With all the rain/snow in the last month or so in the southeast, I can’t imagine this being a dry-brush forest fire.

[ZinGirl]

I believe they are completely unrelated.

The neighborhood on fire now is off Wears Valley Road.

We were just in one of these lovely cabins last week. My heart goes out to these families. It's a beautiful neighborhood run by some of the nicest people around.

[cva66snipe]

I think the one burning now is a different fire that began yesterday afternoon. The Dollywood fire IIRC was started by the train. This is very steep terrain and that makes access and fighting difficult. The winds been up in East Tennessee the past few days and things haven't greened up yet. IOW dead leaves on the ground from last fall and very dry due to wind. We're supposed to get rain this morning and later through the day and night. I'm about an hours drive from the fire I'm guessing.

[Yosemitest]

Was it Alisyn Camerota ?

[jersey117]

Ainsley Air art sitting in for Gretchen

[ZinGirl]

I believe it is Black Bear Ridge neighborhood...just off Lost Branch, off Wears Valley.

My family was just in a cabin last week on Black Bear Cub Way in this neighborhood. We are SO devastated for these families.

The homes are mostly vacation rentals and a large portion of these homes are run by EdenCrest. It's a wonderful, God-fearing group of people...and my heart and soul prays for them

[cva66snipe]

OK I know where Wears Valley is. I don't get up that way much. I live about 20 miles north of Knoxville. Wears Valley is considerable ways from the previous Dollywood fire. I do know enough about the area to know the back way into Dollywood from Sevierville by-passing Pigeon Forge. LOL

My wifes family founded that area literally for John Sevier. She is from Isaac Thomas & McCown families bloodline.

[dforest]

Ali is one of my faves. I wish she would replace the Grinch and I would watch their show more.

[Yosemitest]

After looking at a map of Lost Branch Road, Pigeon Forge, TN, and seeing its location off Highway 321 and west of Highway 441, I can see that its a few miles away from Dollywood.

Fire destroys dozens of cabins, threatens more near Pigeon Forge, Mar. 17, 2013 @ 09:08 PM states:

"A brush fire reported around 5 p.m. in the area of Black Bear Cub Way off Lost Branch Road, near Wears Valley Road, has caused extensive damage as of 8 p.m.

The AirOne helicopter reported 32 cabins had burned, with more on fire and some 40 cabins still standing but threatened in the area.
The objective of firefighters was to establish a perimeter to keep the fire from spreading.
New Market, Blount and Sevier firefighters and the Tennessee Forestry Service were at the scene.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol set up a protective barrier to make sure nobody gets into the affected area.
They shut down Lost Branch Road.
The fire threatened an area from Bear Cub Way and Lost Branch Road all the way to Pine Mountain, and officials were evacuating everyone in those areas."

[Caipirabob]

I guessing arson, from someone who was very familiar with the area.

My first thought, too. It'd take some effort for a wildfire to get started. It's happening in the Fort Collins area West in the mountains now, too.

Way too early during what could be considered the wet season.

[Caipirabob]

We love the area, too. It’s amazingly beautiful and the people there make this one of the best family vacation destinations anywhere. Our kids constantly ask when we’ll go back.