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| | Friday, December 02, 2016
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Fire Update
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will have its Mobile Job Center in Cocke County next week to help workers displaced by recent wildfires, to file for unemployment benefits and look for new jobs. Two mobile job centers are currently open and assisting workers in Pigeon Forge. Workers in Cocke County will be able to access the services of the Mobile Job Center starting Monday, December 5. It will operate Monday and Wednesday, 9:00am-4:00pm at the Newport Community Center, and on Tuesday, 9:00am-4:00pm at the National Guard Armory on the Cosby Road. The federal Incident Command for the fire said Thursday the wildfire has been determined to be human-caused and is currently under investigation. Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are helping the National Park Service and local authorities to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. More than a dozen federal agents, including several certified fire investigators, are on the scene. "We're not looking at a criminal investigation right now," Knight said Thursday afternoon. There are 11 confirmed fatalities according to Dean Flener of TEMA. More than 45 injuries have been reported and more than 700 structures lost. Although authorities have not confirmed identities of the victims, family members of three individuals who were staying in cabins at Chalet Village, say the bodies of their relatives have been identified. The name of Alice Hagler was released by her son, and relatives also released the names of Jon and Janet Summers. The couple from Memphis, were with their sons Branson, Jared and Wesley celebrating a birthday. The sons are being treated for burns at the Vanderbilt Burn Center. The Cobbly Nob area continues to burn. The Incident Command says a total of 17,108 acres have been impacted and more than 400 firefighters utilizing more than 100 engines are working to control the flames. On Thursday, officials said there was zero containment of the fire. Although Sevier County received significant amounts of moisture Wednesday, more will be needed. "We had really good rain, but not enough to make up the deficit. Don't let this rain give you a false sense of security," Michael Proud, Incident Meteorologist, warned. He said warmer weather, wind and decreased humidity will increase fire activity. "The fire is not out, it is just knocked down,"added Mark Jamieson, Operations Section Chief. But Sevier County tourism officials are telling the nation that their community is open for business. Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner, who lost his home and business, on Thursday talked about the resilience of his community saying, “If you want to help Gatlinburg, come back and visit us. We’re gonna be back…we’re gonna be better than ever.” City Manager Cindy Ogle said plans are to open Gatlinburg’s downtown Parkway and River Road to the public on Monday. The National Park Service also announced that the Townsend, entrance into Cades Cove, the popular Great Smoky Mountains scenic drive, is open to the public. On Thursday Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam issued an Executive Order suspending certain state laws in order to ensure wildfire and severe weather disaster survivors have access to important health care services, consumer rights protections, and availability of state services as they recover. “The citizens affected by the wildfires and severe storms have already been through so much, we want to make it easier for them to receive the care and services they need as they begin to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives,” Haslam said. “The state is doing and will continue to do everything we can to support the victims and survivors of these devastating disasters.”
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