Rain quells wildfires across the region
It took mere hours for the Chimney Tops 2 Fire to escape the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and sweep down to engulf parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Monday, Nov. 28. But as wind fueled the roaring fire, rain was on its way. The first drops of precipitation fell late Monday night, continuing into a steady rain Tuesday morning. More rain came on Wednesday, and precipitation resumed Sunday, Dec. 4, with rain still falling as of press time Tuesday, Dec. 6.
The water has had a big impact on the firefighting.
“All that rain has had a tremendous impact,” said Mike Proud, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service stationed at the command post in Pigeon Forge. “We have not had any rainfall intensities that are triggering any debris or mudflows, so that’s good. A nice light-intensity rain for a long duration is what we’re looking for as the best-case scenario, and thankfully that’s what we’ve had over the past few days.”
Since Nov. 30, the Pigeon Forge command post has received 3.75 inches of rain, Proud said, enough for lighter fuels like twigs and grass to absorb so much water they’re not really flammable. If rain continues, heavier fuels like logs could soon be in the same situation.
However, there’s still no consensus on weather the past week’s rain will end wildfire season for good. Periodic rain will need to continue for fire danger to stay low.
“This rain will put a damper on fire season for at least a couple of weeks,” Proud said. “If the pattern continues with systems every couple of days, it will definitely suppress the fire activity for another month or so.”
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The prognosis is much more positive than it’s been in a long time. In North Carolina, nearly all of the fires are at 100 percent containment, with many firefighting teams now demobilizing. And, with rain falling for the third day straight, the Chimney Tops 2 Fire stopped growing. Crews were even able to work on interior hot spots, said Warren Bielenberg, public information officer for the fire. Some demobilization is even underway.
The rain prompted the N.C. Forest Service to lift its burn ban, with some counties following suit. However, burn bans are still in place for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the national forests. And while recent rains have put a dent in the drought, they haven’t vanquished it. Pigeon Forge is still 5 inches short of where it would be on a normal year, and Asheville is more than 10 inches short.
“The drought is still in place, and that is going to take time and more moisture, regular moisture,” said Tim Engrav of the Joint Information Center in Asheville. “If some of that regular moisture stops coming through, things could start to dry out again, so there’s still a concern for that. Everybody’s being cautiously optimistic that the weather has shifted.”
Report arson
The Chimney Tops 2 Fire that spread to Gatlinburg, like all except one of the fires in Western North Carolina, is believed to be human-caused, and authorities are investigating its origin.
• Anybody who hiked or knew someone who hiked the Chimney Tops Trail on Wednesday, Nov. 23, should interview with the investigative team to provide much-needed information. Call 888.653.0009, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., tweet to @SpecialAgentNPS or fill out a survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/TipLine_InvestigativeServicesNPS.
• North Carolina and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are offering up to $10,000 for information leading to conviction of someone responsible for setting wildfires in WNC. Contact Jackson County at 828.631.1125, Macon County at 828.349.2600 or the BIA at 800.472.7766.
Lend a hand
The Chimney Tops 2 Fire destroyed or damaged more than 1,600 structures, and those who would like to help the survivors have multiple options to do so.
• The Gatlinburg Relief Fund, established by the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will directly benefit impacted families. The fund is being managed through SmartBank. Donate at www.smartbank.com.
• The My People Fund, established by The Dollywood Foundation, gives 100 percent of donations directly to affected families. Donate at www.dollywoodfoundation.org.
• The Red Cross has been providing a variety of services, such as food and shelter, to displaced families. Donate at www.redcross.org and note that you would like your donation to be used for the response in Gatlinburg.
