Many react with anger, frustration to dropped arson charges in Gatlinburg wildfire

June 30, 2017 at 11:15 p.m. | Updated June 30, 2017 at 11:18 p.m.

by The Knoxville News Sentinel

Smoke rises from destroyed homes, many burned down to the foundation, the day after a wildfire hit Gatlinburg Nov. 29. The fires in Gatlinburg ultimately spread to over 17,000 acres and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.
Smoke rises from destroyed homes, many burned down to the foundation, the day after a wildfire hit Gatlinburg Nov. 29. The fires in Gatlinburg ultimately spread to over 17,000 acres and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.

Community reaction to prosecutors dropping arson charges against two teens in the Gatlinburg wildfire was swift Friday afternoon, with many expressing frustration and anger.

Genie Brabham moved to Gatlinburg from Louisiana after her home was flooded during Hurricane Katrina. When she heard the news Friday, she said she was numb.

"How do you teach young adults a lesson by letting them go after killing 14 people and disrupting all our lives by destroying everything I own, including my two cats? They're not little bitty kids," she said.

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