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Forest Journalism for a Sustainable Future

Deadly Gatlinburg fire fueled by ‘exceptional’ drought in southeastern U.S.

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The Drought Monitor issued Nov. 29 showed “exceptional drought”, the highest category, for the Gatlinburg area and large sections of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Map: NOAA

Of the dozens of wildfires that burned across the southeastern United States last November and December, none was more devastating than the Chimney Tops 2 Fire in Tennessee.

Fanned by strong winds on the afternoon of Nov. 28, the fire grew to more than 17,000 acres, leaving Great Smoky Mountains National Park and raging through the city of Gatlinburg.

Fourteen people were killed, 145 were injured; 1,711 residences and 42 commercial properties were destroyed in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the surrounding area. [Read more…]

“Fire dominoes:” Tennessee prof warned of potential Gatlinburg disaster

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For years, Henri Grissino-Mayer warned that Gatlinburg, Tennessee, was “made to burn.”

Henri Grissino-Mayer

The surrounding Great Smoky Mountains National Forest was overstocked with fuel and all of Gatlinburg’s homes and tourist cabins were made of wood, the professor warned. If a wildfire reached the surrounding forests, and then the town, there would be a disaster.

For years, Grissino-Mayer was ridiculed and scorned.

Then came the last week of November 2016 and the Chimney Tops 2 inferno. [Read more…]