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Cobbly Nob recovering from fires

One month ago, thousands of Sevier County residents found themselves forced to evacuate, as rapidly spreading wildfires encroached upon - and, for some, engulfed - their homes.

One month ago, thousands of Sevier County residents found themselves forced to evacuate as rapidly spreading wildfires encroached upon - and, for some, engulfed - their homes.

The following morning, those people were desperately trying to learn whether their homes had survived the overnight fires.

Among them were Warren and Lita Wright, who live in Cobbly Nob, about a dozen miles east of downtown Gatlinburg.

There, a utility pole downed in the wind sparked a fire that destroyed 94 homes.

The Wrights are full time residents in Cobbly Nob. They escaped that Monday night, along with three people staying in the rental property next door.

WBIR 10News spoke with Warren Wright that evening, when he was sure their home would be destroyed.

RELATED: Shock, horror, hope: Residents, visitors describe fleeing flames

"When we drove off the mountain after they had us evacuate, we got down to the golf course again, and I stopped and looked back, and it looked like the whole mountain was on fire, and, of course, it sort of was because we lost approximately 100 homes," Wright said.

Their home survived, but Wright says if the wind had been blowing the other way, their house might be gone.

Now, he said his heart breaks for his neighbors, who lost everything.

"It's going to take a long time to get those built back, and I feel very sorry for those - and especially the permanent residents," he said.

The Cobbly Nob Property Owners Association represents 336 homes and 96 condos.

According to association president Rick Thomas, fire destroyed none of the condos and 94 of the homes, 16 of which belonged to full time residents.

"I'm hoping that most people will build back," Wright said. "Some people said they aren't going to build back, but then that lot will wind up being available, so, you know, I'm very hopeful for the future."

Now, the excavation and rebuilding process is underway. There's a constant stream of trucks on the steep, winding mountain roads of the Cobbly Nob community.

"Many of the houses are already being cleared," Wright said.

Thomas said nobody in this community died in the fire, though one woman did break her leg while evacuating.

He said the association is talking with Sevier County officials about getting financial assistance for any uncovered expenses and a better warning system, since Cobbly Nob's sole emergency siren burned in the fire.

In addition to 94 houses, Cobbly Nob also lost the association's lodge and a swimming pool building, and one of the swimming pools itself was badly damaged.

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