x
Breaking News
More () »

Dispatchers recount 'chaotic' night during Gatlinburg wildfires

"If I could have unclipped my mic and gone up and physically helped these people myself I would have," Arn shared.

Every 911 call on Nov. 28, 2016 led to a voice inside the Sevier County 911 Central Dispatch center.

"Phones were ringing off the hook. It was crazy," said Cassandra Arn, who was a new dispatcher at the time.

Arn described the day, that quickly turned into night, as chaotic. She said there were calls backing up and hundreds of emergencies filling the lines.

"It was everything we can do to just make sure every call was getting answered and every person was getting some help," said Tricia Fog, another dispatcher working that day.

Fog was about to leave work when the wave of calls came pouring in.

MORE: Miracle rescue: First responders recall couple saved from elevator during Gatlinburg wildfire

"There was a point where I just threw my hands up and I was like, I was still answering 911 and I was still doing my job, and I was like 'I don't, there's so much. How do we help them? How do we get there?'" Fog said.

Every dispatcher was called in to help. Video from inside the dispatch center that night shows how busy they were.

"I was very nervous. I was relatively new. That was a make it or break for me as a dispatcher that night," Arn said.

Arn is also a volunteer firefighter for Sevier County. That night, instead of being on the fire line, she was on the phone lines.

"If I could have unclipped my mic and gone up and physically helped these people myself I would have," she said.

Arn realized her responsibility as a dispatcher was just as important as fighting fire.

"I was there, my voice was calm and I just tried to help and reassure people that we had people coming. They were trying to get to them," Arn said.

She was one of those lifelines that night.

"We heard all those people. It wasn't just that one person's story. We were hearing every single person that was involved. We were hearing their stories. We were hearing their fear. We had to take it for them. And say, 'OK, we've got you. We're getting you help. We're coming,'" Fog said.

Now, almost a year later, as they continue answering calls, the dispatchers will never forget that night and how it has shaped them today.

Before You Leave, Check This Out