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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

More than 70 area firefighters helped fight massive fires in Gatlinburg

Wildfires burn Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, near Gatlinburg, Tenn. Thousands of people have fled wildfires that killed at least three people and destroyed hundreds of homes and a resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Wildfires burn Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, near Gatlinburg, Tenn. Thousands of people have fled wildfires that killed at least three people and destroyed hundreds of homes and a resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) Wildfires burn Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016, near Gatlinburg, Tenn. Thousands of people have fled wildfires that killed at least three people and destroyed hundreds of homes and a resort in the Great Smoky Mountains. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

HELPING FIGHT THE FIRE

Fire agencies from Hamilton County have been deployed through Tri State Mutual Aid Association to respond to Gatlinburg to assist in the wildfire efforts.› Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department› Signal Mountain Fire Department› Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department› East Ridge Fire Department› Sequoyah Volunteer Fire Department› Soddy-Daisy Fire Department› Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services› Chattanooga Fire Department› Bradley County Fire Rescue› Englewood Fire Department› Meigs County Volunteer Fire Department› Athens Fire Department› Cleveland Fire Department› Decatur Fire Department› Dunlap Volunteer Fire DepartmentSource: Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security

Devastating Gatlinburg fires

At least 75 firefighters from the Chattanooga region fought massive fires in Gatlinburg on Monday and Tuesday after firefighters there put out a widespread call for aid, authorities said.

Chattanooga firefighters drove the entire 150-mile trip to Gatlinburg with sirens blaring Monday night in order to get there as quickly as possible, said Bruce Garner, department spokesman.

“This is really rather extraordinary for fire departments this far from the actual location of the fire to be called out,” he said.

Chattanooga sent engine and tanker crews to fight the fire, Garner said. A total of 12 firefighters from the city went out. One crew arrived Monday night, while a relief crew traveled out Tuesday.