KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Most parts of East Tennessee are experiencing at least a moderate drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor.
That means the changing, drying leaves in the region are both a reminder of fall and the risk for small fires to grow into large ones, said Butch Campbell, the assistant chief of the Blount County Fire Protection District.
Campbell said dry conditions likely sustained a fire along a road known as "The Dragon" on Friday.
"We were supposed to get some rain as well Friday night, and actually Thursday. We just did not get the amount of rain we needed as well," he said.
Nathan Waters, the Assistant District Forester for the Tennessee Division of Forestry's East Tennessee Division, said the dry conditions are widespread. In an email, Waters said East Tennessee is at a "moderate" fire risk. That means while fires are generally unanticipated, conditions are right for accidental fires to start.
He said that something as simple as a dragging chain between a trailer and a truck on sufficiently dry grass could cause a fire. He also said the best precautions people can take is to remain aware of their surroundings and consider potential risks.
Burn season is scheduled to begin in mid-October. Along with getting the permits necessary to start a controlled burn, Campbell said the best precaution is to be aware of your surroundings.
"We got to be smart about how we burn, when we burn and where we burn," he said.
Jason Stinnett, a captain in the Blount County Fire Protection District, said healthy foliage is mixing with the dried kindling. For example, the fire along The Dragon was fueled by a combination of green foliage and a dry underbelly that has built over time, Stinnett said.
The terrain of East Tennessee can also make fighting fires difficult, he said. The hilly and forested landscape in the Great Smoky Mountains, and even in backyards, means small fires can get out of hand if left unattended.
"Don't wait. If you have any thoughts at all, just like the Assistant Chief here said, 'Call right away.' If we get there, and it's easy, then there's nothing lost," he said.