All of Smokies closed due to fire

[paleotn]

Source: Asheville Citizen-Times

A news release this morning from Great Smoky Mountains National Park announced that officials have closed all facilities in the park due to the extensive fire activity, and downed trees. Park Headquarters is currently without power and phone services.

Fires began in the park on Nov. 23 with a small, human caused fire on the Chimney Tops Trail, just over the North Carolina state line in Tennessee. The fire was completely contained over the weekend, but the Chimney 2 Fire, suspected to be a spot fire from the Chimney Tops Fire grew to 500 acres on Monday. A third fire began Monday morning behind the Twin Creek Picnic Pavilion off Cherokee Orchard Road.

Read more: http://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/outdoors/girls-gone-outdoors/2016/11/29/all-smokies-closed-due-fire/94597076/

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Hopefully, the rains we had last night and later tonight will finally bring a historic fire season under control. The worst we've had since at least the late 70's. I've never seen the entire park closed for anything. Last night, over in TN it was surreal.

[frazzled]

1. Drove right through there a few months ago

It's so incredibly beautiful. I'm sorry this is happening.

[paleotn]

2. Thanks so much. It's been a rough season for a lot of folks in north GA, east TN and west NC

A fire of a couple hundred acres is considered large around here, since we usually have such plentiful rainfall. The Rock Mountain fire in north Georgia, southwestern North Carolina has burned nearly 25,000 acres. Party Rock fire, over 7,000 acres. Clear Creek fire, uncomfortably close to me, over 3,000 acres. The list goes on and on. Air quality in Asheville, Knoxville, Chatanooga and even Charlotte has been terrible of and on for weeks on end due to the wild fires. Locally, other than 1/2 inch or rain from hurricane Matthew back in early Oct., we've not had a drop since Aug. 9 until last night.

[Hoyt]

3. Fortunately, the forests will recover quickly unless the drought continues. In some areas, we've

gone a 45 days without a drop of rain when normally November is a wet month.

If you like the hike for 2 to 3 hours or so, it's steep to the Chimney Tops, but the view is worth all the heavy breathing.

[kimbutgar]

4. God is punishing them for voting for orange hitler

I predict a lot of natural disasters in those red states and they will get very little help from the orange hitler administratio. No money after those tax cuts for corporations.

Pssss I'm not serious just being snarky!

[Feeling the Bern]

5. No, those Trumper aholes will blame the fires on Obama some way or another.