GATLINBURG, Tenn. - One year ago Tuesday, a mountain burned and nearly took this city with it.
The fire was 5 days old when winds shrieked down the slopes and whipped flames out of America's most-visited national park and through the streets of this resort town nestled in the shadow of the Smoky Mountains. Fourteen people died that night - most overcome by smoke as they tried to flee - and more than 2,500 homes and businesses suffered damage, many burned to the foundations.
City officials knew the fire was coming. They thought they knew what to do. A computer simulation predicted the blaze wouldn't reach the town limits for 19 hours.