Firefighters in the Chattanooga area drove 150 miles with their sirens blaring Monday night to fight the massive fires in Gatlinburg after firefighters there made a rare call for aid, authorities said.
At least 50 firefighters from at 10 agencies the Chattanooga region are either fighting the fire or on their way today, the agencies told the Times Free Press.
“This is really rather extraordinary for fire departments this far from the actual location of the fire to be called out,” said Bruce Garner, Chattanooga Fire Department spokesman.
Chattanooga sent crews on an engine and tanker truck to fight the fire, Garner said. A total of 12 firefighters from the city went out, Garner said. One crew traveled last night while a relief crew is headed there today.
The first crew to arrive did some firefighting last night, took a three-hour break, and went back out today, Garner said.