Fire investigators suspect foul play in the deadly blaze that swept through Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Monday night and into Tuesday morning.
Death Toll Continues To Rise
The death toll rose to seven on Wednesday morning. The body of one victim was found in the burned-out remains of the Travelers Motel, and three more were found in a residence. So far, the victims have not been identified, but investigators believe they were all adults. The first three victims were found on Tuesday, all in the North Chalet Village area.
Several people remain missing.
A Memphis architect and his wife are missing in the devastating #Gatlinburg fires. https://t.co/ldvLoH1zuD
— knoxnews (@knoxnews) November 30, 2016
My friends in #Gatlinburg last seen in devastated Chalet Village just before fire. Michael and son are safe, wife and girls are missing. pic.twitter.com/8AcW0LJiep
— Kat Jones-Shank (@chasingthrills) November 29, 2016
Jon & Janet Summers are missing in Gatlinburg. Memphis family traveled for Thanksgiving. Sons recovering from burns @ Vanderbilt Med. Center pic.twitter.com/LmbFo613PI
— Marshall Hughes (@marshallhughes) November 30, 2016
Fires Mostly Human-Caused
The fire that devastated Gatlinburg began 10 miles south of the popular tourist destination, but heavy winds late Monday pushed the flames straight toward the city. The fire was one of many that have been plaguing the Southern Appalachians for the past several weeks, and, like some of the others, arson is suspected.
Dana Soehn, spokesperson for the National Park Service, said on Tuesday that the Gatlinburg fire may have been “human caused,” but she did not elaborate.
Meanwhile, arrests have been made in several other fires in the region.
Keith Mann of Franklin, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with arson in connection with two fires in the Nantahala National Forest. Those fires were contained and put out before doing major damage, but the devastation in Gatlinburg shows how quickly a small fire can rage out of control.
On November 15, two men were arrested in separate incidents, charged with starting fires in Tennessee. These fires were not connected to the fire that affected Gatlinburg, but shows a disturbing trend of arson in the drought-plagued Appalachians.
Wildfires continue to burn out of control in #Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Many parts of the SE are under extreme drought. #gatlinburgburning pic.twitter.com/Rugbqa8vMY
— Joe Raineri ☔️? ? (@JoeRaineriWX) November 30, 2016
Cassius Cash, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Superintendent, said on Wednesday that the recent Tennessee wildfires were:
“…Likely to be human-caused.”
Human-caused doesn’t necessarily point to arson; human-caused fires may be started unintentionally, by leaving campfires unattended or tossing cigarette butts out the car window, for example. Still, carelessness is a poor excuse for the loss of property, wildlife, and human life as a result of these wildfires.
Rising From The Ashes
As residents of Gatlinburg and the surrounding areas struggle to rebuild their lives and their communities, people are coming together to help their efforts.
Country singer Dolly Parton, who owns the popular Pigeon Forge tourist attraction Dollywood, is known for her philanthropy, and she’s coming through for the people in her community once again. Her Dollywood Foundation will donate $1,000 a month for the next six months to every family whose homes were destroyed by the fires. In a statement, Parton said:
“As you may know by now, there have been terrible wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, the same mountains where I grew up and where my people call home… I have always believed that charity begins at home. That’s why I’ve asked my Dollywood companies … to help me establish the ‘My People Fund’.”
Tesea Dawson, a Gatlinburg musician with the band Tuatha Dea, has started a GoFundMe account to purchase Christmas gifts for children affected by the fire.
Featured Image via screenshot from GoFundMe video