We obviously arrived after much of the damage was done, and primary were sent there for search and rescue and clean up duty. The 2016 Great Smoky Mountains wildfires, also known as the Gatlinburg wildfires, [1] were a complex of wildfires which began in late November 2016. Others working in the area said that rebuilding became hard at a certain point. I dont have a vehicle, and I have no way out of here. It was a sad and stressful time for East Tennessee. Theres a video filmed by a man named Michael Luciano of him and Anthony Fultons desperate escape from Chalet Village. But the mountains still keep calling us back and I left my shoes. We were just there in mid October. Smoke filled the storefronts on the Parkway as the flames inched closer to the businesses. Crews set a 400-acre containment area in which the fire would be allowed to burn and planned to let the fire burn itself out. Late in the day Sunday, the fire was still at around 35 acres as mapped from the air using infrared sensors. I have no way out, and I have children at home., The lawsuit alleges that the line went dead after the dispatcher told Mrs. Reed, Stay with me.. As the weather reports began to indicate the looming approach of a significant wind storm, efforts to fight the fire were increased. It was one of the largest natural disasters in the state of Tennessees history. And yes, I like most other do believe those kids did start this fire and they should of been [accountable] for it but if itd not been for their daddy knowing the right person! However, the extreme drought conditions meant there was a massive amount of highly flammable fuel throughout the region. We were so caught off guard. Five people are dead after being shot in a Texas home by a suspect armed with an AR-15 style rifle in a horrific . The night of Nov. 28, 2016, they werent aware of the chaos surrounding them until they received a knock on the door. Families that were forced from their homes by the deadly 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires find refuge at a shelter. It was getting worse to breathe. She saw a fire and called 911. Johnson had been missing since the night of the fires, and. Phase one will be a trial on duty and breach and will be applied to all parties involved. We were in the Cobbly Nob section of Gatliburg decorating our rental cabin for Christmas. He said over 200 firefighters representing multiple fire agencies from across the state responded to help the Gatlinburg Fire Department. Some busy signals occurred due to the abundance of radio traffic and the lack of available radio frequencies. I had heard about the fires in the Smokies extensively living in the valley where I do. It was so many fires because of drought. Others, however, stay with us. Best gifts for the graduate with travel plans, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Communities celebrate life of fallen Tazewell firefighter, 1 shot, 1 killed in North Morristown shooting, Smokies named in list of 2022 Deadliest National, DNA from NJ killings tied to deceased man, Documentary on true Cocaine Bear case now streaming, 3 workers struck, 1 dies near Chattanooga Volkswagen, Coming Soon! The region was in the midst of an exceptional drought. Despite these challenges, we sent police fire and mass transit to evacuate citizens and visitors, said Miller. He said the prediction was much lower than the wins actually experienced throughout the day and evening on Monday, considering gusts recorded nearby were up to 87 miles per hour. By the time the rapidly spreading fires were partially contained . Fox News settled the defamation suit that many saw as a slam dunk for Dominion Voting systems for $787.5 . Bumper to bumper. But we will never forget the lost lives. All parties agreed that Phase two would not start until Phase one was finished, scheduling the Phase two trial 200 days after the court rules on Phase one. Here is what was said during that press conference in 2016. Overturned tractor-trailer closes I-40 West in Knoxville, MPD: 1 juvenile dies after being struck by vehicle, dropped off at firehouse, A TENNESSEE WALTZ: Ray Blanton's Last Dance. 10 meters to 160 meters can talk all over the world and you DO NOT need towers. Everytime the wind blew you could see the top of the mountain glow with the stoked fire. I remember very good. Along the way, they pass countless cabins and chalets, fully engulfed and burning like kindling. Open Privacy Options We have the situation completely under control . Nuf Said! Twin brothers Beau and Zackary MacLellan lost their home and their jobs to the fire. How did a one-acre fire on the Chimney Tops trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park transform into a massive firestorm? Several other fires had started throughout the city. Damage caused by . Tourists, locals and officials were mindful of the fire, which brought smoke and ash into the city. The parks fire management team applied an indirect attack strategy by identifying a 410-acre containment area where the terrain allowed the fire to be fought safely and effectively, according to Jordan. A siren alarm system was used to evacuate the Gatlinburg area, but it is uncertain what time the sirens started, and some residents told WVLT News they never heard them. The smoke is what will kill you. Browse cabins with pet friendly policies. Calls for mutual aid went out across the region. After 5 days of the fire spreading around the northern part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into Gatlinburg, it was finally contained. Ive been back for only a three day weekend and it was bittersweet, but Im going back soon and hope I can feel the same way as I did when I was there with him. A large fire has destroyed a 32-unit building at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, according to NBC affiliate WBIR. Simply watching the video is harrowing. Fourteen people were killed, and 191 people were injured in the fire. I wont place blame but I sure hate it happened. Meanwhile, Jordan said ground personnel worked on constructing firelines and improving the natural boundaries of the containment area. It was deserted. I think that they rebounded well. However, it was no normal fire. TEMA did not send out a mass evacuation alert because it said it did not have a preset message to accurately describe the situation. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. Over the next several hours our call for mutual aid from across the state arrived to provide protection all along our boundary as we focused efforts on the expected threat from the Twin Creeks area. By the time local officials were informed about the true danger, the Chimney Tops 2 fire was unstoppable, Greg Millers statement reads. The Reason Shes Not a Billionaire. My husband, fr CSGM Theme by carodactyll | Digital Marketing by YlliB, Inc. By continuing to use our website, you are accepting the use of cookies. It was creepy, and I also saw several beat-up looking cars with flaming tires. 14 lives were lost in heartbreak after heartbreak as families tried to outrun the flames. According to Wiki: On May 24, 2018, a federal lawsuit was filed against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on behalf of victims seeking damages for the failure to stop the Chimney Tops 2 fire before it left the park. I am so disappointed in the way this was handled. She reached out to her husband to ask what she should do. We continue to come to Gatlinburg frequently. We ran , loaded up the van and was told there was only one way out and that was the road that goes past the Alamo restaurant and towards the Arts & crafts area. Gatlinburg and Sevier County burned Monday night, Nov. 28, 2016. It was a tragic event most certainly for the loss of life, but also for the property impact and the general beauty of the area. The new building at the top of the park wasnt finished until May 2019, which is also when the park opened its new addition: the Skylift Bridge. 321 was stalled for over an hour while they cleared a firetruck with a downed tree on it. On Oct. 9, a woman who was working at the Ripleys Aquarium smelled smoke and walked up to 745 Parkway Suite 4 to investigate. Bull Head ridge was one of the first areas the fires "ridge hopped" to on Monday, November 28, 2016. Clay Jordan, deputy superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, said the fire was about 1.5 acres in size and located in the North Spire. And tourist and Residents of this Parish. Those affected by the fire sued the government in 2018, alleging negligence by NPS employees. At 8:30 p.m., Miller said Sevier County Emergency management Director John Matthews was able to make a cell phone call with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to ask them to send a public alert and warning system evacuation message to mobile devices to announce that the Gatlinburg area was to be evacuated. Husband taking a shower, when he came out and had just gotten dressed the phone wrung. Once we had arrived home in Georgia, we turned on the news to see that the fire was threatening the entire area. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Only walking along the strip, signs of the wildfires three years prior weren't noticeable, but locals knew everything looked different then. I heard the guy at the front desk yelling GET OUT AND GET OUT NOW! I had already got packed up because we were checking out in the morning heading to Cherokee to check in at Harrahs. Looking back, I realize my selfishness and feel guilty. I remember texting my niece to see if he was okay and she said I was just talking to him and he saidwe have to leave and hung up. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - On Friday, Gatlinburg city officials released a report detailing the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and injured another. We went to town. They were staying in Chalet Village on Crooked Ridge Road. The whole family should be in prison. Large swaths of the forest that burned in November of 2016 have yet to completely heal. The ABS report listed some communication successes such as the call for mutual aid but listed six major communication issues as well. When Parton arrived to help dole out the final payments, she brought the nearly 900 families an unexpected bonus. My father Myrl Carr said he didnt get a phone call or a knock on the door for a warning. John Gullion, Managing Editor at the Citizen Tribune, is a freelance contributor for TheSmokies.com LLC the parent company of TheSmokies.com and HeyOrlando.com. Officials with the City of Gatlinburg and Sevier County released heartbreaking 911 calls made prior to and during the deadly wildfires. Jordan and his crew let the KNP fire burn for five days before doing anything. The brothers carry their work uniforms as a reminder of how far theyve come since that night. The key is to learn from those mistakes and prepare for the future. I mean, really? The high wind gusts up to 87 mph, in addition to creating a firestorm, knocked down power lines and created new fires. Between Thursday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25 National Park Service crews "identified and worked to establish a containment area lower down on the mountain where there was a higher chance of success to stop the fire" (NPS) until the weather took a turn for the worse the following Sunday. I was there on vacation at the time of the fire very scary where we stayed burned down so heartbreaking and devastating to see. It seemed inconceivable that this fire should pose any kind of threat to the community before the weather was expected to calm that night. Strong winds pushed the fire towards the northeast. Ash covered cars and trees began to fall due to the wind. The WATE 6 Storm Team and the National Weather Service issued a high wind watch predicting strong winds developing late Monday afternoon. View the web story version of this article here. All of the golf courses in Sevier County had allowed their grass to turn brown because of the expense to continue to water it: thats the type of drought. Miller said despite being severely challenged due to downed trees, downed poor lines and loss of power, landline phones, internet and cell phone service, they were able to send police, fire and mass transit personnel door-to-door in many areas to evacuate citizens and visitors. 11-26-16 dreary Gatlinburg Fire by Gary Millar. Claire Atkinson. Gatlinburg Fire Department Chief Greg Miller said his firefighters positioned their trucks positioned at the park boundary and were prepared to hold the fire. Watson grew up in Gatlinburg. April 26, 2023. They are resilient in the mountains, and the natural splendor will return in time. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) Downtown was packed full of tourists walking on the sidewalks, going into stores and waiting in line for attractions on the day before Thanksgiving. "Team turned off 1 engine just before start & 1 . Does the TV Show Make Real Moonshine? During these door-to-door evacuations we encountered many residents who were resistant to evacuation until we convinced them to step outside and look at the conditions, said Miller. That evening we were on the deck and the winds were fierce. All rights reserved. The 14-minute video, embedded below, shows both sides of the road glowing yellow, orange and red. A List of Big Fires in the Area. Jon Summers, 61, and Janet Summers, 61, were from Memphis, Tennessee. Our response was challenged due to loss of internet and cell service. The fire department was there quickly. We saw a disabled car that wasnt so lucky and I got out of the car and was able to get them safely to our vehicle and out of there, and let them use one of the respirators. On Wednesday, November 23, 2016 a hiker on the popular Chimney Tops Trail managed to capture a photo of two teenage boys dropping lit matches on the trail despite the current no-burn order in the area. The newest attractions opening this year. Subscribeto ournewsletterand we will instantly deliver the best area discounts to your inbox. The shelter at the Gatlinburg American Legion Building, located at 1222 East Parkway in Gatlinburg, has been closed and a new shelter is open at the Gatlinburg Convention, 234 Historic Motor Nature Trail in Gatlinburg. Our house was on Cliff Branch Road in Chalet Village. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer stated the National Park Service failed to notify park neighbors, visitors, and local residents of all planned and unplanned fire management activities that had the potential to impact them. But given the extreme behavior we had observed, we notified Gatlinburg Fire Department of the situation anyway so they could watch for spot fires, as unlikely as it seemed at the time, said Jordan. We call our parents and told them , we loved them as we didnt know how it was going to end. The raw audio details harrowing escapes and the desperate pleas for help made by wildfire survivors when the flames approached homes and businesses. The video posted by Michael Luciano was incredible because compared to us they were rather calm, I couldnt imagine being calm enough to hold a camera. Just enough to scar me. In actuality, the fire reached Gatlinburgs city limits in two hours. Is Moonshiners Real? It's one thing to see the charred destruction that raging wildfires left this week in the eastern Tennessee resort town of Gatlinburg, but quite another to see it side by side with pictures of. Thanks to the Newsteam at WBIR TV for posting all the coverage they did. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Best Hole in the Wall Restaurants in Gatlinburg, Top 9 Ranked. The day the sky turned red and yellow, the wind howled, and almost the whole East Tennessee valley started to smell the burning I knew that the night and morning would bring massive death and destruction. Marcus Watson, marketing adviser for the Gatlinburg Skylift Park, said when they found out that the top of the attraction was destroyed, they were shocked. If fact, the incident commander had never experienced this in the Southeast in his 25 years of fighting wildland fire.Given the strong winds, exceptionally dry conditions and fire on the ridgelines out of reach of firefighters, containment of the fire was going to require a much larger effort once the winds died down.. the downtown fire on Oct. 9 that killed one person and injured another. Did the boys set the Chimney Tops II fire? Im curious to know if the NPS was sued by the families who lost loved ones and the businesses who suffered damage or loss. It was just so heartbreaking, I needed to share this with my husband and he wasnt there! Crews spent Thursday through Saturday working to establish a containment area lower down the mountain. I had just been there stayed at river Terrace. I live in Seymour off 411 Hwy. The evening of Monday, November 28th, forever changed the sleepy mountain towns of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and the surrounding areas. These responders were arriving throughout the unfolding of the firestorm, requiring staging, coordination and deployment. residents was that it was too green and lush here for there ever to be a fire like are seen out west. Claude said revenue has increased about 14.4% since June 2016. After watching his video I almost feel like I had PTSD, but it gives me more perspective on how lucky we were. It was shocking and upsetting. Marci Claude, spokesperson for the city, said 68% of the damaged or destroyed structures have been rebuilt, and revenue for the city has been steadily increasing since the fires. A yellow brown haze was everywhere. Thank God we werent there. Jordan said the changing conditions allowed the fire activity to pick-up. Between 5:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Miller said the Gatlinburg Fire Department had multiple fires begin to ignite around Gatlinburg. One lady had a blanket wrapped around her waist as they demanded everyone get out as is. Gatlinburg still has a lot of rebuilding to do, but Watson said the silver lining of it all is that the fires actually gave a chance for new growth. Due to your consent preferences, you're not able to view this. Take an inside look at the . But the prospect of her secret recordings being played during trial helped push Fox News to settle the lawsuit, Bloomberg News has reported. It took us 2 hours to travel a 30 minute drive. The Gatlinburg fire of 2016 began in late November - the day before Thanksgiving - on Chimney Tops Trail in a period of extreme drought. There is still rebuilding going on in Cobbly Nob. We are frequent visitors to Gatlinburg, and had left town the morning of the fire. As darkness approached, a firefighting team hiked up the mountain to size-up the fire. Then we watched as a transformer fell across the valley from us and started a ground fire which spread to that house and then another house. At 12:37 a.m. Wednesday, the Gatlinburg Fire Department responded to a structure fire at Westgate Resorts. The WATE 6 Storm Team says the weather changed overnight. Officials identified Robert A. Hejny, 63, who was found at Travelers Motel in Gatlinburg. Additionally, critical communications links between the City of Gatlinburg EOC and TEMA were significantly interrupted and contributed to TEMA not sending the requested IPAWS message to evacuate Gatlinburg. I was still grieving the loss of my husband when this tragic fire exploded. It took 3 I spent many days and nights in tears for the people that were my neighbors. He said they also started building fire lines with bulldozers. We grabbed everything and headed out the door. By David Angotti - March 2nd, 2017. View of some of the burned area of the park from Carlos Campbell Overlook NPS photo by Lisa Nagurny Last updated: September 1, 2022 Was this page helpful? RELATED: Forestry radio calls during Gatlinburg fire show how quickly it grew. But the few years before the fire I remember reading reports by experts saying that the Smokey Mts. The U.S. Government through its employees, failed to follow mandatory regulations to monitor and extinguish a fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, thereby allowing it to spread beyond the park boundaries onto claimants private property, destroying their property and resulting in the death of his wife Constance and their daughters Chloe and Lily, court documents read. Especially saddened by loss of life. Copyright 2021 WVLT. His dad managed the Skylift for nearly 40 years. We were scared and now there are still many people who are angry. Carlson's final broadcast of "Tucker Carlson Tonight" aired last Friday. We lost both my aunt & uncle in the fire and by the grace of God my 3 cousins survived after time spent in the burn unit at Vanderbilt. While reports are conflicting, Ober Gatlinburg posted on its Facebook page that the ski resort is undamaged and the company is assessing the . In the months and years following the fires, a fuller picture of what caused the fire emerged. Officials said May Vance died of a heart attack in the wildfires and did not release further information other than they were from Gatlinburg. The devastation of the Gatlinburg wildfires offered hope, in a way, for scientists. Fires of various sizes burned all over East Tennessee. According to an independent report by the ABS group, as late as 4:30 pm on the 28th, models provided by the Pigeon Forge Fire Department indicated it would take 19 hours for the fire to reach the city limits. I cant imagine living it. Also, communications were hampered due to the fire intensity and high winds. In the dark we could see a line of headlights coming down the mountain as everyone evacuated. The report said the fire was an accident and caused around $7 million in damages. Bucket drops are used to slow an intensely burning fire, but they do not put out even a small wildland fire that is burning in deep duff. Jordan said he was briefed on the plan of attack along with the parks chief ranger and they all agreed that the fire attack plan was the only practical option for controlling the fire as quickly as possible. During the investigation, fire officials interviewed a cleaner of Loco Burro who saw a person matching Bates description the morning of the fire. See winners from every year of the contest. The humidity values for the area on Sunday, November 26 dropped to an exceptionally low 17%, and the national weather service warned to expect 40 mph winds the following day. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Heres Our Top 7, 9 Best Pigeon Forge Shopping Areas and Outlets, Best Ice Cream in Gatlinburg, Top 6 Ranked, A Look at Dollywood History, the Park Before the Dollywood Era, What To Know About Dollywoods Splash Country From a Local, Anakeesta Offers Sneak Peek on $34 Million Expansion [2023]. It affected an estimated 2,400 buildings. When you do look out you see some of the dead trees. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. I would sit and watch the news and just cry. The Gatlinburg SkyBridge was added to the iconic Gatlinburg SkyLift Park back in 2018 and has since become a s Rainbow Falls Gatlinburg was one of the trails that suffered greatly from the Gatlinburg fires. I think they were committed to rebuilding the town and getting everybody back here. All of 3 of these decisions were made by the NPS in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years. For example, the information did not always make it to the PIO for dissemination. Officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said two juveniles were charged with aggravated arson, but the charges were dropped, according to attorney Greg Isaacs. Dad should be held responsible also. We were aware that there was a fire burning on Rocky Top. So, helicopters flew in new orange towers, and we brought in new yellow chairs. In actuality, the fire reached Gatlinburg's city limits in two hours. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? I wasnt there when this fire happened but I watched on tv news. Volunteers from around the world calmed the fears of victims as they donated millions of dollars to the relief fund. Authorities would later announce the fire was sparked by juveniles playing with matches and fueled by unusually high winds. You can still see much of the damage these trails sustained today. The message was sent at 9:03 p.m. News media reported the evacuation notices which were shared through social media sites and we are eternally grateful for the multiple avenues that were shared in the evacuation message. He said a total evacuation of the Gatlinburg area was ordered.Related:Oak Ridge fire crews help rescue 12 people from Sevier County wildfires. The four days prior, the air had been full of smoke and ash, even in downtown Gatlinburg. Reed took the familys only car and left Constance and the two girls at home to drive to the Gatlinburg Welcome center to gather more information about what was occurring. I thought it was all gone, everything I knew and loved these past 40+ years. All rights reserved. John Tegler, 71, and Marilyn Tegler, 70, were dual citizens from Woodstock, Ontario, but owned a vacation home on North Skyline Drive in Chalet Village. Three more people were found dead on Campbell Lead Road. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. When I read this article I cried again. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Eleven plaintiffs are suing the National Park Service, and the cases are broken down into two phases. The. Glad things are back l love it there. The problems manifested themselves in a myriad of ways. The 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire was deadliest in the eastern half of the U.S. since the Great Fires of 1947 in . There were hundreds of contributing fires caused by downed power lines due to the high winds on days 2, 3, 4. The fire claimed the lives of 14 people, injured an estimated 190 people and caused millions in damages and devastation. 2016 Gatlinburg fire: then and now . Just before weather monitoring equipment died due to a power. No The KNP Complex Fire that devastated Sequoia National Park and surrounding lands in September-October 2021 had much in common with the Gatlinburg disasterchief among the commonalities is Superintendant Clay Jordan. A crew from Samaritan's Purse assists with clean up after the 2016 Gatlinburg fire (archive photo by Dr. Candi Overholt/TheSmokies.com). From 7 p.m. until midnight sustained winds were at. During this time, Constance observed flames coming from a house across the street. A time our family will never forgot. Some conservative commentators and celebrities began calling for a boycott of Bud Light after the beer was featured in a social media promotion by a transgender influencer, Dylan . Took us several weeks to get the smoke smell out of our hair. Editors note: There is strong language in the video. Our site produces editorial content for the purpose of entertainment. At one personal weather station on the east side of Gatlinburg, gusts spiked at 69 mph and the temperature shot up to 119 degrees at 8:34 p.m. before the station went offline, presumably engulfed. Instead, the city contracted for limited PIO services with the Convention Center and Visitors Bureau. All victims were shot from the neck up "almost execution style," police said. Watson also hinted to the Skylift Park expanding one more time. Her My People Fund promised each family which had lost its primary residence in the fires $1,000 a month for the next five months. Helicopters dumped water on the hottest sections throughout the afternoon. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and a partner of other affiliate programs including Booking.com, CJ and Tripster, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases via links found in this article. On Nov. 23, 2016 a fire started on the Chimney Tops Mountains and five days later, it had reached the city of Gatlinburg. Carlson himself did not release a public statement about his departure before press time. It killed 14 people, hurt nearly 200 more, and burned 17,000 acres, mostly of woodland. On Oct. 9, a woman who was working at the Ripley's Aquarium smelled smoke and walked up to 745 . He said that is a standard firefighter suppression strategy in mountainous terrain. My husband and I were on vacation. Alamo Steakhouse - Destroyed. We were in Chalet Village when the area was engulfed in flame and smoke. As we reflect upon what happened in the first 24 hours, I can tell you that I continue to hear stories of critical decisions during this crisis, which helped saved lives and courageous accounts of heroism from across agencies as well as citizens, said Gatlinburg Fire Department Chief Greg Miller. Who Has the Best Steak in Gatlinburg? Sat. Them all brush fire caused a lifetime of pain for some including death. My husband and I had been vacationing in Gatlinburg a week before the fire. What we were observing was extraordinary fire behavior, said Jordan. Therefore, TEMA could not send the message, because the verbiage had not been approved. Family and friends were worried about what direction the fires were going. Jodan said Great Smoky Mountain National Park requested a spot weather forecast for the fire from the National Weather Service. A lot of my life was spent in the Smokey Mountains. And finally, the original EOC and other offices of city officials had to be evacuated to another location in Gatlinburg. For the brothers, the My People Fund helped them get back on their feet. They were the cause and it was dropped because of the position of one of their fathers. Bradley Phillips, 59, was discovered at 412 Long Hollow Road. The 57-year-old had appeared on CNN on Monday during the morning programme as normal, before reports of his dismissal were publicised later that day. My heart broke for the people there. By the time local officials were informed about the true danger, the Chimney Tops 2 fire was unstoppable. A wildfire burning near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee, has grown to more than 3,700 acres and impacted more than 100 structures, County Mayor Larry Waters said.