• About
  • Smokies
  • Area Towns
    • Area Towns
    • Cherokee
    • Gatlinburg
    • Maggie Valley
    • Pigeon Forge
    • Sevierville
    • Townsend
  • Park Info
    • Park Info
    • Cades Cove
    • Camping
    • Fishing
    • Hiking Trails
      • Hiking Trails
      • Little Brier Gap Trail
      • Metcalf Bottoms Trail
      • Rich Mountain Loop Trail
    • Historic Structures
      • Historic Structures
      • Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church
      • Elijah Oliver Place
      • Hannah Cabin
      • John Oliver Cabin
      • Little Cataloochee Baptist
    • History
    • Waterfalls
      • Waterfalls
      • Abrams Falls
      • Laurel Falls
      • Mouse Creek Falls
      • Spruce Flats Falls
    • Wildlife
  • Contact
  • Home

Log In


User Panel Banner
Log In

  • Latest News
  • Travel Tips
  • Tourist Communities
    • Cherokee
    • Gatlinburg
    • Pigeon Forge
    • Townsend
  • History
  • About the Smokies
  • About the Site

HomeTourist CommunitiesGatlinburg2 Juveniles Charged in Connection With Tennessee Wildfires

2 Juveniles Charged in Connection With Tennessee Wildfires

  • December 7, 2016
  • 0 comments
  • admin
  • 0
22
SHARES
FacebookTwitterPinterestReddit

(AP) Authorities on Wednesday charged two juveniles in an East Tennessee wildfire that killed 14 people and destroyed or damaged more than 2,400 buildings in an iconic tourism spot at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Officials offered few other specifics about how they think the two started a fire that leveled buildings into charred scraps, carving a deadly path through the Gatlinburg area.

People scrambled in terror to try to flee on foot or drive out of the inferno that often cloaked them from all sides, shooting hot embers through the winds. Some spent days hoping for good news about their missing loved ones. Many learned they would soon be planning funerals.

The juveniles face aggravated arson charges in the fire in the Chimney Tops area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Nov. 23. That fire grew amid drought conditions and ultimately rode winds exceeding 87 miles per hour into the Gatlinburg area early last week. Authorities have not yet announced a dollar amount on the damaged caused by the wildfire.

The two are being held in the Sevier County juvenile detention center.

“Our promise is that we will do every effort to help bring closure to those who have lost so much,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn.

The juveniles are from Tennessee, but not Sevier County, where the fires spread. Otherwise, officials said state law prevents releasing more information about them.

Karyssa Dalton, a 19-year-old whose grandmother Pamela Johnson remains missing in the blaze, said the two should be held accountable, even though they’re young.

“I mean, what if somebody came through their town, and set their town on fire, and lost their loved ones, and lost all their homes?” Dalton said. “It’s not fair.”

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Chief Ranger Steve Kloster said the public was “critical” in offering investigators information through a tip line. Previously, the National Park Service said it believed the fire was human caused, and set up a tip line for people to call if they hiked that trail on Nov. 23, or knew anyone who did.

The investigation is ongoing and more charges could come. It’s also possible that the case could be transferred to an adult criminal court, said local District Attorney General James Dunn.

The juveniles are entitled to a detention hearing within 72 hours in which a juvenile court judge will decide to hold them without bond, hold them with bond, or release them, Dunn said.

Dunn constantly said everything was “part of the investigation” when asked for details.

Asked if others could be charged in the fire, Dunn repeated that “everything’s on the table.”

“We don’t know,” he said.

On Wednesday, Gatlinburg residents and business owners were allowed to move back into homes and establishments permanently. They had been allowed to visit during daytime hours since last Friday.

The city is slated to open to the public on Friday morning. Though swaths of the city were decimated, the main downtown strip appears to have been spared.

Gatlinburg Chairlift

Extent of Fire Damage in Smokies Comes into Grim F...

  • November 30, 2016
  • 0 comments
Ober Gatlinburg

Gatlinburg Looks to Holiday Tourism as it Recovers...

  • December 17, 2016
  • 0 comments

Related Posts

black bear
0 comments
Latest NewsTravel TipsWildlife

Gatlinburg Officials Reminding People to ‘Be Bear Aware’

Unto These Hills
0 comments
CherokeeHistoryLatest News

Cherokee Fight to Save Language From Extinction

black bear
0 comments
Latest News

Black Bear Attacks Couple Near Asheville

john-oliver-cabin
0 comments
Cades CoveHistoric Structures | Great Smoky MountainsLatest News

New Accessible Trail Completed in Cades Cove at John Oliver Cabin

Comments are closed.

Do not miss

black bear
0 comments
Latest NewsTravel TipsWildlife

Gatlinburg Officials Reminding People to ‘Be Bear Aware’

SMOKY MOUNTAINS T-SHIRTS

cades cove shirt

Latest Comments

On Top of Old Smoky! Day One | My Quantum Discovery on: Noah “Bud” Ogle Cabin […] such building that we stopped at was the Noah “Bud” Ogle Farm which ...
Best Wildflower Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains | Gatlinburg Space Needle Times on: Andrews Bald […] Andrews Bald […]
A powerful conservation tool | Tropical Biology Association on: George Masa, Legend of the Great Smoky Mountains […] 2)George Masa’s  photography inspires the creation of Smokey Mountain Park...
Fantastic Fall Season in the Great Smoky Mountains | Photo Vide on: Spruce Flats Falls […] Flat Falls “is a lesser-known but wonderful waterfall to visit during your trip ...
The Cataloochee Settlement | Great Smoky Mountains on: Cataloochee Valley [...] is a 13 minute long program dedicated to the history of the Cataloochee Settlement i...

Social

Subscribe to Our Smokies Newsletter

Recent Comments

  • On Top of Old Smoky! Day One | My Quantum Discovery on Noah “Bud” Ogle Cabin
  • Best Wildflower Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains | Gatlinburg Space Needle Times on Andrews Bald
  • A powerful conservation tool | Tropical Biology Association on George Masa, Legend of the Great Smoky Mountains
  • Fantastic Fall Season in the Great Smoky Mountains | Photo Vide on Spruce Flats Falls
  • The Cataloochee Settlement | Great Smoky Mountains on Cataloochee Valley
Copyright © 2016 thegreatsmokies.net Disable responsivity
Got a hot tip? Send it to us!

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Subject

    Your Message

    Got a hot tip? Send it to us!

      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Video URL

      Attach Video

      Category

      SportNewsTechMusic

      Your Message