GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Update (4:30 a.m.): The city of Gatlinburg said it has lifted its mandatory evacuation in the areas of Ownby Hills and Hidden Hills after crews responded to a 1.5-acre brush fire.
The city said the Ownby Hills/Hidden Hills fire ignited shortly before midnight on Wednesday, March 30 due to downed power lines.
That fire was located in an area near Gatlinburg-Pittman High School northeast of downtown Gatlinburg.
Crews gave an update at 4:30 a.m., saying the evacuations had been lifted and that people in those areas were free to return to their homes or rental units.
No structures were destroyed and no injuries were reported in the fire, Gatlinburg authorities said.
“The City is grateful for its first responders from the Gatlinburg Police Department, the Gatlinburg Fire Department, and other outside agencies which responded to the fire,” Gatlinburg City Manager Cindy Cameron Ogle said. “We are also thankful no structures were destroyed and no one was injured and that everyone heeded the evacuation orders.”
A second evacuation order was issued at 1:40 a.m. Thursday for the nearby Sky Harbor community between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Sevier County EMA is no longer showing that evacuation as being active.
The Sevier Co. EMA has created a dynamic map people can access and type their address into at this link, which will show if you are in the evacuation areas for the fires in the Gatlinburg and Wears Valley areas.
An emergency shelter for people affected by the fire was established at the Gatlinburg American Legion Building, located at 1222 East Parkway in Gatlinburg.
The Gatlinburg Convention Center shelter at 234 Historic Nature Trail has been closed after crews lifted the evacuation order for the Ownby Hills/Hidden Hills area.
In Pigeon Forge, an emergency shelter is open at the Pigeon Forge Community Center 170 Community Center Road.