Dolly Parton Requests For Prayers As Fire Engulfs Pigeon Forge
Dolly Parton Requests For Prayers As Fire Engulfs Pigeon Forge
Several fires were recorded in the Smokies a couple of weeks ago, including one in Pigeon Forge. Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina were among the areas that were impacted.
While the vast majority of these fires have since been either extinguished or largely contained, the threat of a wildfire remains extremely high due to the dry conditions and rising winds.
Earlier this month, Tennessee Wildland Fire authorities struggled to contain the wildfire that has destroyed more than 100 structures in the hills near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The Hatcher Mountain Road/Indigo Lane fire has scorched around 3,700 acres of land.
Evacuations for the Shagbark resort and Hatcher Mountain, Cove Creek, and Indigo Roads, were in place according to Sevier County Emergency Management.
Several roads in the area were also closed to allow easier emergency vehicle access. Fire is raging in the region that is home to country music queen Dolly Parton as well as her Dollywood theme park attractions.
Parton took to Instagram to offer her sympathies to people who have been affected by the fires in California. She wrote: “I’ve been keeping up with everything going on with the fires near my home area,” Parton wrote.
“It looks scary on TV, but I’m proud of how everyone in the area has pulled together like they always do.
I’m especially proud of the brave men and women who are working to contain the fire. ”
She then asked for prayers for those who have been affected by the fire. Parton says she’s been assured everything is OK around her Dollywood estate. She adds, “I know some folks who have been affected, and I hope that you will join me in saying a prayer for them.
During this time, I’ve also remained in touch with my people at Dollywood who have assured me everything is okay there.”
Dollywood spokeswoman stated that the fire broke out around 2 p.m. in a heating and air conditioning unit on the roof of a closed and unoccupied building on the resort’s grounds.
According to the spokesman, no one was in the immediate vicinity of the fire and personnel were able to bring the blaze under control before the Pigeon Forge Fire Department arrived. According to a spokeswoman, the park remained open and running.
The Millstone Gap fire, which is the second fire in a rural location along the Blount County/Sevier County boundary that has burned 800 acres so far, has been completely out of control and showed very little chance of being contained. Investigators are now trying to determine what sparked the initial flames.
The Pigeon Forge Community Center opened as a shelter while the Seymore Heights Christian Church also remained open as needed for those who were seeking a safe place.
In Tennessee, there are normally two fire seasons, according to tn.gov. Starting in mid-February and ending in mid-May, the spring fire season is a period of time during which the forest “greened up.”
The fall fire season begins about the middle of October, when the leaves begin to fall, and finishes around the middle of December.
Still, it’s crucial to remember, though, that wildfires can occur at any time of the year. Wildfires may also be caused by nature. But experts suggest that nearly 85% of wildland fires in the U.S. are caused by humans.
