Wildfires ravage Southeast
- Two juveniles arrested, charged in deadly Gatlinburg wildfires
- Tennessee takes four area counties off burn ban list to aid tornado cleanup
- Rain helps with area wildfires, but Tennessee burn ban remains [videos, photos]
- Gatlinburg wildfires death toll climbs to 14; officials estimate 1,684 structures damaged or destroyed
- Nonprofits and state agencies step up relief efforts amid tornado, wildfire damage
- Man charged for allegedly intentionally setting a Sequatchie County wildfire
- Rain brings relief for wildfires
- Southern storms should ease drought, but fire threat remains
- At long last, substantial rain is expected throughout Chattanooga area
- Gov. Bill Haslam applauds wildfire fighters' efforts
- Firefighters make progress in Southeast wildfires, but threat remains
- Crews fighting large fire in northeast Alabama
- Gov. Haslam vows to pursue wildfire arsonists 'with everything we have'
- Hamilton County wildfires to cost more than $600,000
- Forestry crews prepared to miss Thanksgiving with families as they battle wildfires
- Wildfires rage on; new one pops up in North Georgia
- Gasp! Wildfires cause hacking and wheezing across the South
- Air quality improves, rain possible this weekend
- Relentless smoke spreads fear at edge of southern wildfires
- Catoosa County issues burn ban
- Many outdoor activities banned as fires burn across south
- Two men charged with arson as crews make progress quelling 3 area blazes
- Chattanooga is on target to break record for driest year in city's history
- Alabama man confesses to starting Sequatchie County fire
- Area wildfires containment increases, Flipper Bend fire 95 percent contained
- Catholic Mass offered for wildfire relief
- Fire crews hope to reach 100 percent containment on 3 area wildfires
- Wildfire smoke engulfs Chattanooga, endangering health of residents
- No rain in forecast as Chattanooga area wildfires continue to burn
- Tennessee Gov. Haslam issues 51-county burning ban
- Firefighters use hand tools to fight Chattanooga-area wildfires with no rain in sight
- Hundreds hospitalized with breathing problems amid Chattanooga-area wildfire outbreak
- Sohn: Might wildfire smoke be harbinger of days to come?
- New fires sprout in Chattanooga area as firefighters work to contain thousands of acres burning across region
- Arson suspected in most Chattanooga area wildfires
- UPDATE: Man arrested after admitting he set three wildfires that consumed 300 acres
- The latest update on the unprecedented fire season in the tri-state area
- Wildfires burning total of 9,680 acres across eastern half of Tennessee; FEMA steps in to offer aid [videos, photo galleries]
- Southern fires rage with 41.6 million now living in drought
- Wildfires continue across region with no rain imminent; some residents evacuated
- Chattanooga area wildfire smoke triggers 'Code Red' air quality alert [videos]
With help from crews from as far away as California and Oregon, firefighters are making progress in containing three wildfires on Signal Mountain.
The Mowbray Mountain fire, which has burned some 750 acres, is over 50 percent contained and that number should climb by late Monday, according to Julie Allen, PIO with the Florida Forestry Service, which has taken over the leadership in fighting several fires in the area. "We're really excited about that one," Allen said.
Wildfires abound in the region as seen in this NASA image.
A nearby wildfire at Flipper Bend is 90 percent contained, although 1,000 acres have burned, and nearby residents have been allowed back into their homes, she said. Volunteer firefighters have been using a portable pump to fill their tender trucks, which carry water, from a nearby lake to fight that fire. Firefighters then use hoses to extinguish hot spots that remain after most of the flames have been knocked down.
"The one we are working hard on right now, at Poe Road, started late Thursday or Friday morning," Allen said, between the Mowbray Mountain and Flipper Bend fires. The fire has burned about 550 acres in very difficult terrain and is about 40 percent contained. "Poe Road is so remote that we can't get to it," she said. "The terrain is very difficult, but we have the Nevada crew on that fire because they are trained for that type of terrain."
The smoky conditions have limited the use of helicopters to drop water, Allen said. So instead crews from around the Southeast, plus California, Texas, Oregon and Nevada are using hand tools and bulldozers to create fire breaks that will prevent the flames from spreading, Allen said.
A burn ban is in effect for Hamilton County and eight other counties that prohibits residents from starting fires, including campfires, charcoal or wood-fired grills (but not propane), leaves, brush or garbage fires. Other counties where the ban is in effect include Claiborne, Cumberland, Jefferson, Loudon, Marion, Monroe, Robertson, and Sevier counties.
Violating the ban can carry a fine of $2,500 and/or up to 11 months and 29 days in jail.
