MFRD Battling Fires In Gatlinburg

Mayor McFarland asks for prayers for MFRD firefighters and for Gatlinburg.

At least 14,000 people have been evacuated from Gatlinburg as yesterday’s winds fanned flames from a wildfire suspected of being started by an arsonist. At least 30 buildings are on fire and 3 resorts have been damaged. MFRD has sent firefighters to help fight as the fires threatened Dollywood early this morning.

On Monday evening at 8:30 pm, Chief Mark Foulks deployed fourteen (14) firefighters, a fire engine and two ladder trucks to the staging area located in Sevierville, TN to assist with the uncontained fires that are spreading across Gatlinburg.

The personnel and fire equipment arrived at 1:30 am CST this morning and have now been requested by operations to respond into the scene of the fires.

MFRD’s Engine 1, Ladder 8, and Ladder 9 are currently assisting with the catastrophic loss of numerous residential and commercial structure fires that are continuing. It is unlikely that additional crews will respond, but instead, personnel will be rotating out over the next 48 hours and personnel will replace those who initially responded.

The request came from the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid System which is a network of fire departments throughout the state.

There have been no reports of injuries to any of the MFRD personnel and Chief Foulks stated “Please pray for the safety of all personnel engaged at this event as well as the citizens of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge as they cope with this disaster.”

More information about the deployment will be released when it is available.