Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Fire And Heartbreak In The Smokies

Unseasonably dry weather, apparent carelessness with fire, and hurricane-force winds turned a 1.5-acre fire along the roof of Great Smoky Mountains National Park into a killer conflagration that will long leave a mark on Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the park. Contributor Danny Bernstein examines the damage that's been done.

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By [email protected] - December 4th, 2016 2:00am

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600 Fighting Chimney Tops 2 Fire At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Six-hundred firefighters were spread out across Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday trying to better assess the growing footprint of the deadly Chimney Tops 2 Fire while also working to get the upper hand on a second fire that had covered 750 acres in the park's backcountry.

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 3rd, 2016 10:28am

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UPDATED: Death Toll From Great Smoky Mountains Fire At Seven, More Rain Needed

While nearly 2 inches of rain fell Wednesday on the Great Smoky Mountains, a conflagration that has claimed at least seven lives and destroyed 700 structures this week could still flare up without continued rainfall, officials said.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 30th, 2016 5:54pm

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Friends Of The Smokies Raises $100,000, Will Aid Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildfire Recovery

In less than 48 hours, thousands of individual donors contributed more than $100,000 to Friends of the Smokies in support of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on #GivingTuesday. One hundred percent of these donations will help meet the greatest needs of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, beginning immediately with emergency relief efforts related to the recent wildfires.

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By NPT Staff - November 30th, 2016 9:08pm

UPDATED: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wildfires Sweep Over Gatlinburg, Kill Three

At least three people were killed by fires that swept more than 15,000 acres in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and neighboring Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where more than 100 buildings, including a 16-story hotel in the colorful resort town, were damaged or destroyed. Crews worked into the night Tuesday to continue to assess damage in the park, though the historic LeConte Lodge was said to have survived the conflagration without damage.

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By NPT Staff - November 29th, 2016 7:14pm

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UPDATED: Forest Fire Leads To Closure Of Newfound Gap And Other Roads In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A wildfire burning not far from the roof of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Monday led to closure of the Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee Orchard Road, and Elkmont Road due to the fire crossing the road and thick smoke creating "almost white-out conditions," while a second fire close to the western edge of the park led to a voluntary evacuation of a Gatlinburg, Tennessee, neighborhood.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 28th, 2016 3:18pm

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Efforts Continue To Douse Wildfire At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Work continued Friday to put out a wildfire burning near the top of the Chimney Tops Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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By NPT Staff - November 25th, 2016 10:19am

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Small Wildfire Closes Trails At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Crews at Great Smoky Mountains National Park were to head out Thanksgiving Day morning to attack a small wildfire burning near the top of the Chimney Tops Trail. The fire covered about 1.5 acres when it was reported Wednesday night just beyond the summit of the trail.

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By NPT Staff - November 24th, 2016 9:36am

Black Friday Hiking At Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers are suggesting you take a break from spending on Black Friday and take a hike with them instead.

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By NPT Staff - November 23rd, 2016 2:30am

Fire Conditions Merit Bans, Restrictions In Shenandoah And Great Smoky Mountains National Parks

With wildfires burning in many places of the Southeast, and extremely warm and dry conditions in the forests, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has banned all campfires and use of fire grills in the park, while to the north in Shenandoah National Park fire restrictions have been put in place in the South District.

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By Kurt Repanshek - November 16th, 2016 9:51am

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