residents was that it was too green and lush here for there ever to be a fire like are seen out west. What caused the devastating fire that November night? Alamo Steakhouse on East Parkway. Roger, you cannot sue the federal government, no matter how much they mess things up. Of course, they. That was my great nephew, Tony, driving the truck and his best friend, Michael, shooting the video. The Reason Shes Not a Billionaire. For example, the information did not always make it to the PIO for dissemination. A shocking 20.3% of Tennessee Residents believe that over 50% of downtown Gatlinburg was destroyed in the Gatlinburg wildfire. Some of the towns most impacted were Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, both near Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 14 people An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sightsee at a leisurely pace. Along the way, they pass countless cabins and chalets, fully engulfed and burning like kindling. At least 300 structures have been affected by the fires, which could mean anything from a burnt porch step to an entire cabin destroyed. It was being treated as a normal fire. Volunteer Firefighters from Kentucky were being sent down to the Smokies, and many fires in Kentucky had to be fought by single departments, and even if they werent NEARLY as bad as Gatlinburg, its still amazing that they managed to fight the fires there too. A popular tourist destination was engulfed by . PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Nov. 30, 2016)As the city of Pigeon Forge continues to assist its residents and visitors affected by recent wildfires, a Pigeon Forge supply distribution center will open Thursday, December 1 at 9:00 A.M. A separate named fire destroyed much of the Cobbly Nob subdivision east of Gatlinburg. Those boys still started the initial fire. We continue to come to Gatlinburg frequently. 14 people The Gatlinburg fire of 2016 began in late November - the day before Thanksgiving - on Chimney Tops Trail in a period of extreme drought. Here's the Real Story - NewsBreak Years have passed, but the scars remain. . President-elect Donald Trump tweeted: "My thoughts and prayers are with the great people of Tennessee during these terrible wildfires. Read Also: Are Gatlinburg Fires Common? Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies in nearby Gatlinburg features another window to a wondrous underwater world w Smoky Mountain wildflowers are abundant as you hike through the national park. In Gatlinburg, smoke and fire caused the mandatory evacuation of downtown and surrounding areas, according . American country singer and notable figure of the area Dolly Parton were among many notable figures to pitch in to help the cause.[18]. "[29], Commenting on the devastation, country music star Dolly Parton (originally from Sevierville) said she was "heartbroken". [31] $9 million were raised. The Gatlinburg fire that killed 14 people was started by two teenagers dropping lit matches onto the ground along Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountain National Park, sources close to the. The report said the fire was an accident and caused around $7 million in damages. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel,the two boys are friends and live in Anderson County, Tennessee. The fires ultimately burned more than 15 square miles of land inside the national park (most notably the area surrounding Mount LeConte and the Chimneys) and more than 2,000 buildings were destroyed. 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. Ultimately, nothing can fix the problems of the past. 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. The report said the. A lot of my life was spent in the Smokey Mountains. Gatlinburg and Sevier County burned the night of Nov. 28, 2016. Many of you continue to ask about making financial/cash contributions to help our displaced families thank you so very much! [4][24][25] Throughout the course of the investigation which revealed that many of the area fires were likely caused by embers wind-blown from the existing larger fire, local officials declined to release any information about the fires or response, citing an erroneous interpretation of a gag order.[26]. The humidity values for the area on Sunday, November 26 dropped to an exceptionally low 17%, and the national weather service warned to expect 40 mph winds the following day. The Chimney Tops 2 Fire was originally reported on November 23, 2016. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Just enough to scar me. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Update at noon Tuesday: Tennessee Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies is intact, according to Gatlinburg officials. The Real Story of the Gatlinburg Fire of 2016. This is a Very true story that I hope to never ever repeat. The Southern Area Red Team assumed command of the Chimney Tops 2 Fire today, Wednesday, November 30th, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. I couldn't imagine not having a home here and now a permanent resident living along side my bear family and other wildlife . Now, three years later, the Smokies are recovering. [39] West surveyed 100 recipients of the emergency relief funds in April 2017 on topics including questions on housing, financial impact, physical and emotional heath, and sources of support, with a follow up survey conducted in December 2017. Of course, they will heal eventually. It was deserted. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The fire resulted in the deaths of 14 people and more than $500 million in damage, with firefighting costs of more than $7 million. I was still grieving the loss of my husband when this tragic fire exploded. They were the cause and it was dropped because of the position of one of their fathers. Home Travel What Caused The Gatlinburg Fire. Forge Creek Road has been closed to all use since November 2, 2020, to replace five bridges. What caused the Gatlinburg fire 2016? Dry conditions and high winds caused a wildfire on Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains to spread quickly. The creation of the Mountain Tough organization would provide ongoing support for those affected over the next three years. By the time local officials were informed about the true danger, the Chimney Tops 2 fire was unstoppable. 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. 2016 (WHSV) - November 28th, 2016 is a day many in east Tennessee will never forget. If youre planning a great date night dinner or just want to grab a bite at one of the best steakhouses, Gatlinburg makes a better option for high-end food. "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. The City of Gatlinburg did not, at that time, employ a full-time information officer nor have a crisis communication plan. Please bring donations to the old Boyd's Bear facility in Pigeon Forge at 149 Cates Ln. Our family was in the fire. It was getting worse to breathe. God bless the Smoky Mountains. Burning embers and ash fill the air and downed trees threaten to trap the men. Find the perfect razed mountains stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Monetary donations, which assist those affected in securing temporary housing during the rebuilding process, are still needed. The fire left behind a mosaic of heavily burned, lightly burned, and unburned landscapes.Jun 23, 2021. Everytime the wind blew you could see the top of the mountain glow with the stoked fire. The wildfire caught local and federal park officials unprepared. Gatlinburg, TN. 2016 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. We were in the Cobbly Nob section of Gatliburg decorating our rental cabin for Christmas. We had been assured that there was no danger, and everything seemed to be business as usual. Didnt know for 24 hours that our cabin was spared. With that interest came an amazing outpouring of financial support and, of course, a natural interest in what caused the disaster. Bull Head ridge was one of the first areas the fires "ridge hopped" to on Monday, November 28, 2016. By the time local officials were informed about the true danger, the Chimney Tops 2 fire was unstoppable, Greg Millers statement reads. As more years pass, green growth will envelop the deadwood. All rights reserved. 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. By Posted junit test cases for switch statement java In chomu palace wedding cost Officials with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park determined it was in a spot too difficult to fight due to the dangerous and steep terrain. . The region was in the midst of an exceptional drought. 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. Those interested should call 865-804-1661 for more information beginning Thursday, December 1. Editors note: There is strong language in the video. At the point it was first reported, the fire was approximately 4 acres. As many as 14 fires are still burning in the national park. Miller told Nashville Public Radio some of the wind speeds topped 87 miles per hour, blowing embers up to a mile away. Humidity values for this day dropped to as low as 17 percent during a period of "Exceptional" drought. Others, however, stay with us. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Gatlinburg and Sevier County burned the night of Nov. 28, 2016. Initially park officials did not attempt to suppress the fire, as they expected the natural landscape of the area to contain it. Theres a video filmed by a man named Michael Luciano of him and Anthony Fultons desperate escape from Chalet Village. This week, he filed a lawsuit claiming the National Park Service was negligent in its efforts to contain the blaze. The common assumption among long tome Smokey Mt. Thank God we werent there. KNOXVILLE, TENN (WLOS) A year and a half after the deadly Gatlinburg fires, one victim is now suing for negligence. 2023 www.digglicious.com. The death tolls is now at four. Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. National Guard crews from Chattanooga were called in, and three Chinook helicopters began dumping gallons of water from Pigeon River's West Prong on top of the fire. The National Park Service decided to let that fire burn rather than extinguish it. Any Sevier County resident or visitor who was affected by the wildfires is encouraged to visit the distribution center. It took us 2 hours to travel a 30 minute drive. View of some of the burned area of the park from Carlos Campbell Overlook NPS photo by Lisa Nagurny Last updated: September 1, 2022 Was this page helpful? The boys were hiking along the trail on Nov. 23 and tossing lit matches on the ground despite a no-burn order due to severe drought conditions. 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. A detention hearing set for the two boys for Friday was postponed and both are still being held in the county juvenile detention center. (CNN) Dollywood is temporarily closing its drop tower attraction after a boy fell to his death from a similar type of ride by the same manufacturer at a park in Orlando, a spokesman for Dolly Partons Tennessee theme park said. The distribution center opens on Thursday, Dec. 1, and is located just off the Parkway in Pigeon Forge in the former Boyds Bear facility at 149 Cates Lane. I remember lying in bed thinking about Gatlinburg. Mother and daughters had run from their home in the Chalet Village community after they watched a neighbors house burst into flame. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. sources close to the investigation told the Knoxville News Sentinel. Press ESC to cancel. Artists confirmed for Mountain Tough include the Zac Brown Band. How many people died in Gatlinburg 2016 fire? 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 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. However, Parton's Dollywood - which was gravely threatened by the Gatlinburg Wildfires in 2016 - is safe. The event featured country music artists such as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, John Rich, John Oates, and Kristian Bush, and Dolly Parton. On November 28th, 2016, wildfires started to spread into populated areas across the county. 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. However, by the time a federal judge dropped the charges six months later, some had lost focus on the fire. 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. PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (Nov. 30, 2016)After receiving an overwhelming volume of donated supplies, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has opened a supply distribution center to serve those affected by recent wildfires and help the community and its members. A lack of early notice was the most critical failure of all. My heart broke for the people there. The national park is now closed indefinitely due to the fire. 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. The fire claimed the lives of 14 people, injured an estimated 190 people and caused millions in damages and devastation. We obviously arrived after much of the damage was done, and primary were sent there for search and rescue and clean up duty. 0. (Contributed photo/Tennessee State Troopers). The whole family should be in prison. 2460 structures were damaged or destroyed and 17,136 acres were burned. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Lucky we had a couple P100 full face respirators from painting project we had the year before so that made it to where we could keep as much sense about us as possible in the choas. The strong winds carried burning embers, sparking still more hotspots and increasing the spread of the fire. But, its important to note that the autumn of 2016 in East Tennessee had been exceptionally dry. The result was six weeks of AQIs above 600 for those of us who lived just downhill from the Parksix weeks of living under evacuation orders, 80 years of life packed into one carlands my family had lived on, loved and cared for over five generations reduced to a heartbreaking deathscape. Tourists, locals and officials were mindful of the fire, which brought smoke and ash into the city. Dolly Parton is heartbroken by the news. November of 2016 brought the largest wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks history, marking the largest natural disaster in Tennessees history. This video gives me an idea of what the people in those cars went through, and its not a pleasant idea, but I am very glad that these people managed to escape. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). February 2021: new growth on Baskins Creek Trail, November 2020: burnt trees on Bullhead Trail, November 2020: new growth appearing on Bullhead Trail. How long does it take to drive the Cades Cove loop? The KNP Complex Fire that devastated Sequoia National Park and surrounding lands in September-October 2021 had much in common with the Gatlinburg disasterchief among the commonalities is Superintendant Clay Jordan. (WVLT) On Nov. 23, 2016, the day before Thanksgiving, a fire began on the Chimney Tops Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Family and friends were worried about what direction the fires were going. Wildfires have devastated much of the Gatlinburg, Tennessee and areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. My family is Old Family in Gatlinburg. Did Hillbilly Golf in Gatlinburg burn down? Then around December, I went down to Tennessee with my parents and a sister, and I could see fire just about everywhere. The Chimney 2 Fire is increasingly being contained, while all of the fires in the Gatlinburg area have been successfully put out. After the fires, Dolly Parton stepped up and organized massive fundraising. I was so glad to see the community pulling themselves back together. We call our parents and told them , we loved them as we didnt know how it was going to end. Evacuations were called. "The cause of the fire near Chimney Tops appears to be human caused.". Her theme park, Dollywood (in Pigeon Forge), was largely spared from damage. The scene is now buried in my mind. No were overdue for a bad fire because of all the underbrush accumulated over many years. 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. A lot of the affected area was in around Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and Cherokee Orchard. Traffic is heavy during the tourist season in summer and fall and on weekends year-round. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Where To Hike In The Smoky Mountains Other That Gatlinburg, Quick Answer: Where Is Gatlinburg Located, Quick Answer: What Caused Notre Dame Fire. However, it was no normal fire. Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. Inspecting the damage, firefighters said the putt-putt has been completely destroyed. Of course, because of the size of the fire and the damage it inflicted, the fire was big news. It was creepy, and I also saw several beat-up looking cars with flaming tires. How many have died in the Gatlinburg fire? Deputies: Rockford garage fire caused by meth lab explosion Freeport mourns loss of Mrs. Mike's Potato Chips owner, son Winnebago County sheriff provides update on Onyx Bar & Grill shooting GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WJHL) It has been now five years since the deadly wildfire that ravaged Gatlinburg Tennessee. When Parton arrived to help dole out the final payments, she brought the nearly 900 families an unexpected bonus. In actuality, the fire reached Gatlinburgs city limits in two hours. This prompted me to start cleaning up my small patch of woods on my property. Volunteers are also welcome to sign up throughout the weekend. The fire claimed the lives of 14 people, injured an estimated 190 people and caused millions in damages and devastation. That evening we were on the deck and the winds were fierce. I live in Seymour off 411 Hwy. I thought for sure we werent making it out. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The anniversary approaches. For additional information, please call 866-586-4483. "[37], Stefanie Benjamin, Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Tennessee noted that despite negative press from the fire, the region "was able to recuperate fairly quickly. Large swaths of the forest that burned in November of 2016 have yet to completely heal. [35] U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer ruled September 8, 2020 that the lawsuit against the United States could go forward on a claim of failure to warn under the Federal Tort Claims Act before a judge., Source: Wikipedia : 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires. The quick actions of many of the areas firefighters, police and EMS workers saved lives, but often they were operating without enough information. It was so many fires because of drought. In addition, current roadwork occurring in Cades Cove along Forge Creek Road has been extended. The fire burned more than 17,000 acres of land, killed 14 people and damaged more than 2,000 buildings. 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. It was a sad and stressful time for East Tennessee. City officials kindly request that no new donation collection efforts begin until the current supply is reduced and additional storage space becomes available. The legal battles continue as of this writing in 2023. What year was the Gatlinburg fire? Just after the fire, 31 miles of hiking trails were closed indefinitely due to fire or wind damage. Crews set a 400-acre containment area in which the fire would be allowed to burn and planned to let the fire burn itself out. Find out which popular steakhouse prepared each of these delicious bites of steak below (photos by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com), Flapjack's Pancake Cabin has six locations around the Smokies (photo by Morgan Overholt/TheSmokies.com), I live here and I remember that evening eating at Henderson Chapel Baptist Church and see and smelling the woods on fire I too live here. Did Cades Cove burn in . Roger, Janet, The Roaring Fork Baptist Church is being rebuilt and is almost complete. In 30+ years of visiting and investing in Gatlinburg, I had never seen brown golf courses. Two juveniles charged with aggravated arson. We stayed at my sisters and left fir home in Indiana in the morning. We had friends who were there during, I remember it well. Heres Our Top 7, Is the Laurel Falls Hike Easy? That was the worst part. [42] U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer ruled September 8, 2020 that the lawsuit against the United States could go forward on a claim of failure to warn under the Federal Tort Claims Act before a judge. It was listed as approximately 3 acres burning at the summit on the trail. Now, three years later, the Smokies are recovering. Sat. It also came out that the boys didnt set the fire it was the Rangers they lost control of the situation On November 27, while the fire was still inside the containment boundary, three Chinook helicopters dumped water on the fire in an effort to mitigate its spread. Our heart goes out to the people who lost their lives. I was there on vacation at the time of the fire very scary where we stayed burned down so heartbreaking and devastating to see. 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. However, the speed at which it spread and the damage to human and animal life was shocking. "If one of our first responders is injured badly or is God forbid killed fighting these wildfires, I can promise you the full weight of state government will come down upon you," David Purkey, Tennessee Commissioner of Safety and Homeland Security, said at the time. according to the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce. What caused the fire in the Smoky Mountains? [7], One of the largest wildfires was the Chimney Tops 2 Fire, which burned more than 10,000 acres, and closed the Chimney Tops Trail.[14]. [16][17] In addition, the fires were also the most deadly and destructive of the 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires. These responders were arriving throughout the unfolding of the firestorm, requiring staging, coordination and deployment. Our car was basically trashed, but our lives were spared. Such a beautiful place in all of Gods creation to have to go through that. Such a tragedy. The second part of the name came from the bloomery forge built by Isaac Love in 1817, on a site near the present Old Mill. 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. For more information please read our privacy policy. And finally, the original EOC and other offices of city officials had to be evacuated to another location in Gatlinburg. The ABS report listed some communication successes such as the call for mutual aid but listed six major communication issues as well. However, the company lost some cabins in the fire. Authorities recovered their remains near a home not far away on Wiley Oakley Road. The Smokies was our favorite place. KNOXVILLE Prosecutors have dropped charges against two Tennessee teenagers they labeled as responsible for the states deadliest wildfire in a century, an attorney confirmed Friday. I remember very good. We finally made it out of town stopped at a gas station bathroom and met people who had evacuated from the hotel. When I read this article I cried again. However, the extreme drought conditions meant there was a massive amount of highly flammable fuel throughout the region. The unholy concoction of conditions created a perfect storm. There is still rebuilding going on in Cobbly Nob. The trails that sustained the most damage were of course Chimney Tops where the fire started, in addition to Bullhead, Baskins Creek, and Rainbow Falls. RELATED: Woman, children with local ties die in Gatlinburg wildfire The fire was the state's deadliest in more than a century. I knew something was wrong, really wrong, when the winds changed. 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. Fire has been a part of the landscape in Tennessee throughout history. 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). Thank you Smoky Mtns for being the strong, resilient community you are. I spent many days and nights in tears for the people that were my neighbors. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). A raging inferno swept through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into the city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee on November 28, 2016, killing 14 people and injuring 190 more. View the web story version of this article here. Additionally, critical communications links between the City of Gatlinburg EOC and TEMA were significantly interrupted and contributed to TEMA not sending the requested IPAWS message to evacuate Gatlinburg. Three victims died together Constance Reed, 34, and her two daughters, Chloe, 12, and Lily, 9. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. As smoke overwhelmed the building, Christa Fordan feared death. But the mountains still keep calling us back and I left my shoes. They should have been severely punished! 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, to create hell on one of the prettiest places on Gods Earth. [32], Parton hosted another telethon Tuesday, December 13, also in Nashville. Some busy signals occurred due to the abundance of radio traffic and the lack of available radio frequencies. A judge last year dismissed the lawsuits, but the legal battles continue today as they move forward with a make-or-break hearing, according to WBIR. Meanwhile, back in Gatlinburg, life continued. First responders reacted heroically. In the months and years following the fires, a fuller picture of what caused the fire emerged. The boys continued hiking down the trail, unaware they had sparked a fire. I wasnt there when this fire happened but I watched on tv news. The teens who caused it should still be in prison, but its not like the government really cares anymore. 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. Stay safe! Here's the Real Story. Authorities recovered their remains near a home not far away on Wiley Oakley Road. A National Weather Service report issued on Sunday predicted wind gusts up to 40mph the following day. The total lost of homes was 8. When two juveniles were arrested on December 7 and charged with aggravated arson, many people assumed they had the answer. At least 300 structures have been affected by the fires, which could mean anything from a burnt porch step to an entire cabin destroyed. Dry conditions, wind and a hard-to-reach fire created hell on earth in 2016, The fires caught local and federal officials unprepared, Two boys were arrested, but charges against them were later dropped, Investigators determined that wind and other factors contributed to the tragedy, And the lack of an early notice was the most critical failure of all, Read the full story about the Gatlinburg firesand how Dolly Parton helped those affected.