BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Blount County 911 said authorities have issued voluntary evacuation notices in the Townsend area as crews battle a 6-acre brush fire that escaped containment in the Rich Mountain Gap area.
The Blount County Emergency Operations Center said the voluntary evacuations are out of precaution.
Below are the roads that were sent voluntary evacuation notices:
- Lequire Rd
- Lail Ln
- School House Gap Rd
- Rich Mountain Rd
- Portions of Dry Valley Rd
- Portions of Old Cades Cove Rd
- Portions of Little Springs Rd
The Blount County Emergency Operations Center said one shelter is open at the Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church.
Nathan Waters, who works with the Tennessee Department of Forestry, said the brush fire was reported inside the Great Smoky Mountains.
According to the NPS, the fire is burning on rugged, steep terrain primarily in the park's boundary. By 8:30 p.m. Monday, they said it was 100% contained. However, the fire jumped containment overnight, according to Townsend Fire Chief Don Stallions.
The NPS said it used a helicopter on Monday to deliver water to help suppress the fire. On Tuesday, the park said two Tennessee Division of Forestry dozers responded to help improve the containment line along with nine members from the park and four members from the Cherokee National Forest.
The park said it has ordered additional help, including air support and more engines to fight it Tuesday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for Blount County until 12 p.m. Tuesday.
"Blount County coordinated an early-morning voluntary evacuation of homes near the park boundary. High wind and red flag warnings remain in effect for the area until later today. Several roads and campgrounds within the park remain closed for employee and visitor safety. A parkwide burn ban is also in effect until further notice," the NPS said.
Rich Mountain Gap is located in the southern parts of Blount County, near Townsend and the border of the park. Crews with the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department left the scene after it was contained, leaving NPS crews to watch the fire overnight.
BCSO said the Townsend Police Department and the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department were responding to the fire. Crews with the National Park Service were responding to the fire. Crews were using helicopters to dump water on the fire, hoping to prevent it from spreading and to extinguish some of the flames.
"(We're) just hoping the rain gets here before the wind does," said Waters.
The fire was reported alongside several others across East Tennessee, as dry conditions left piles of dried leaves and brush in the area, giving fires the fuel they needed to quickly ignite and spread. On Monday, leaders were also concerned about wind gusts moving into the area, which could head spread fires even quicker, ahead of rainfall.
Authorities pleaded with East Tennessee residents to avoid burning anything until drought conditions subsided.
Due to ongoing drought conditions, the fire danger will be extremely high across East Tennessee. Fires will be able to develop easily and spread very quickly in these conditions. If you live near an ongoing fire or start to see smoke, it may be a good idea to have a "go bag" ready in case you need to evacuate the area with short notice.