Sadly, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Hillbilly Golf is a victim to the regions wildfires. At least seven people have died and dozens have been hospitalized in wildfires in Tennessee that have ravaged a popular . Strong southerly winds (with wind gusts up to 87mph) created by mountain waves[19][20] blew sparks into the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas and knocked down trees (which in turn started fires when they hit power lines). The key is to learn from those mistakes and prepare for the future. Tourists, locals and officials were mindful of the fire, which brought smoke and ash into the city. Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. The fire ballooned to more than 17,000 acres when winds stronger than 80 miles per hour carried the fire down the mountain and through Gatlinburg and parts of Pigeon Forge Nov. 28. More than 50 Dollywood employees worked with firefighters Monday night and Tuesday morning to protect Partons namesake theme park from fires that burned close to the property, including on Upper Middle Creek Ridge behind the parks south side, Owen said. The cause of the fire is still undetermined and under investigation. At this time the fire was still within the defined containment boundary. Any Sevier County resident or visitor who was affected by the wildfires is encouraged to visit the distribution center. Authorities considered the fire to be "human-caused.". What caused the devastating fire that November night? The National Park Service decided to let that fire burn rather than extinguish it. The whole mountain across the river was on fire. Razed mountains hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Downtown Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community were unaffected by the fires, so visitors should expect to be able to enjoy some time of their vacations in Gatlinburg starting Friday. Overheated Conveyor Belt Motor Appears To Have Caused Fire That Killed The G-burg fires remind me of the ole adage, We are from the Government, trust us, we are here to help. A judge last year dismissed the lawsuits, but the legal battles continue today as they move forward with a make-or-break hearing, according to WBIR. We obviously arrived after much of the damage was done, and primary were sent there for search and rescue and clean up duty. [16][17] In addition, the fires were also the most deadly and destructive of the 2016 Southeastern United States wildfires. We made it as far as the Alamo restaurant when it caught on fire. [23], Two unnamed juveniles were initially charged with aggravated arson in connection to the fires; however, charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence as well as language in an agreement between the State of Tennessee and the Department of the Interior which excluded state jurisdiction from prosecuting criminal activities that occurred entirely within the park.