A calamitous wildfire has consumed two Tennessee towns near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, killing at least three people and injuring more than a dozen others, officials said Tuesday, according to The Washington Post.
The fire, which Gov. Bill Haslam called "the largest fire in the last hundred years in the state of Tennessee," scorched roughly 15,000 acres in eastern Tennessee, destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced about 14,000 residents and tourists to evacuate, according to CNN. Evacuees said they were forced to leave with only the clothes they had on as the fire rapidly approached their homes.
The towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge in Sevier County were ravaged by the fire that was reported Sunday, and some fires continued to burn as of Wednesday morning, according to CNN.
The fire began on a trail in the mountains 10 miles south of Gatlinburg, according to National Park Service spokesperson Dana Soehn. Investigators have said they believe the fire was "human caused," said Ms. Soehn, but she did not offer further information as it is still under investigation, CNN reported.
Here are four points of news on how healthcare organizations in the area are helping people injured or affected by the fire.
1. LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn., has taken in 16 patients with injuries related to the fire, five or six of whom were transferred to University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville as of 12:30 p.m., according to WBIR.
2. A UTMC spokesperson said the hospital has received at least 10 patients with injuries that range from minor to critical, according to WBIR.
3. Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville has admitted three people who suffered severe burns in the fires.
4. About 2,000 people are at Red Cross shelters. The organization has set up a donation center to distribute and receive goods, according to WJBF. The location is New Hope Church of God 2450 Winfield Dunn Parkway Kodak, Tenn. The phone number is (865)-932-4673.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.