Downtown Gatlinburg evacuated due to threat from wildfires

by Staff of WATE

Tue, November 29th 2016 at 9:02 PM

Updated Tue, November 29th 2016 at 11:23 PM

Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller says Downtown Gatlinburg is being evacuated due to wildfires in the area. (Image: WATE / Chris Higgins)

Representatives with Great Smoky Mountains National Park say fire conditions continue to change rapidly in the park. (Image: National Park Service)

A fire near the Chimney Tops has grown to 500 acres overnight due to extreme winds. Investigators believe the fire was caused by arson. (Image: National Park Service)

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Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller says Downtown Gatlinburg is being evacuated due to wildfires in the area. (Image: WATE / Chris Higgins)

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller says Downtown Gatlinburg is being evacuated due to wildfires in the area.

That's according to our sister station WATE.

Representatives with Great Smoky Mountains National Park say fire conditions continue to change rapidly in the park.

A fire near the Chimney Tops has grown to 500 acres overnight due to extreme winds.

Investigators believe the fire was caused by arson.

Monday morning the park service closed several roads and trails due to the wildfire.

“We predicted yesterday that we were between 10 acres whenever the day started and towards the end of the day we had about 50 acres in the evening,” said Dana Soehn with the National Park Service. “At some point overnight this fire blew up from 50 to 500 acres.”