WEARS VALLEY, Tenn. — Fire crews Friday said a brush fire in the area of Parkside Resort near Little Cove Road and Pine Mountain Road has been fully contained, and crews are wrapping up work to put out a few remaining hot spots.
As of Friday morning, Sevier County Dispatch said the fire had been fully put out. However, crews said they were still dealing with smoldering hot spots within the containment area.
The fast-moving brush fire quickly grew to 30 to 40 acres and prompted evacuations Thursday night in the 2-mile radius around Parkside Resort from 6:30 p.m. -- extending into Pigeon Forge and Wears Valley.
People were directed to take temporary shelter at the Pigeon Forge Community Center. Organizers at the shelter said that the evacuation orders were lifted by around 9 p.m. and people could return to their homes.
The Sevier County Emergency Management Agency said rain helped emergency crews contain the fire, but said people may have seen smoke and fire from a distance overnight.
The Dandridge Fire Department and other Jefferson County fire departments headed out to Sevier County to assist. The department said it took a tanker and two firefighters and they were assigned to the Sevier County Wildland Task Force.
The New Market Volunteer Fire Department also said it helped crews with the fire.
Several brush fires sparked up Thursday in Sevier, Cocke, Hawkins and other counties in the area, many due to high winds knocking down power lines.