Officials issue stark Tennessee fire warning: Drought and wild winds could spell disaster

In some of the starkest language they've used since the deadly 2016 wildfire season, Southern Area Coordination Center officials are warning East Tennessee and Western North Carolina counties about the extreme fire risk this week.

The ongoing drought combined with forecasted high winds could spell disaster.

Counties all along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line are under a red flag warning, meaning the region is at an increased risk of fire danger. In addition to ongoing burn bans, officials are warning residents and visitors to stay alert and be prepared to move quickly if a fire starts up.

The Southern Area Coordination Center listed the Tennessee mountains as having “significant fire potential” with gusts predicted to blow up to 90 mph.

“Extreme fire behavior is possible despite fuels that are generally not as dry as in 2016,” the Nov. 20 report said.

The high winds – which can get even higher in the Great Smoky Mountains – can cause fires to grow significantly. High winds also can cause downed trees and power lines, which can spark up wildfires.

Drought and high winds led to the Chimney Tops fire blowing outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into neighboring towns seven years ago. Fourteen people died.

Rain is in the East Tennessee forecast

Any fires that pop up hopefully will run out of steam if rains come as predicted.

The National Weather Service in Morristown predicts a smattering of rainfall late Nov. 20 and a 100% chance of rain Nov. 21. It could total up to three-fourths of an inch.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park closes campgrounds and some roads

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced it will close Elkmont and Cades Cove campgrounds and most park roads to protect visitors, employees and park resources ahead of the high wind gusts and red flag warning.

What will close?

Park rangers will start closing roads by early afternoon today. Visitors should leave as soon as possible. The following roads are already closed or will close later Nov. 20:

• Newfound Gap (Highway 441 from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Smokemont Campground)

• Clingmans Dome Road

• Cherokee Orchard Road and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

• Foothills Parkway between Walland and Wears Valley

• Little River Road between the Townsend Wye to Sugarlands Visitor Center

• Laurel Creek Road and Cades Cove Loop Road

• Cataloochee Road

• Lakeview Drive

What will remain open? This is subject to change

• Gatlinburg Bypass

• Foothills Parkway West (from Look Rock to Highway 129)

• Other park roads will remain open as long as safely possible

• The Spur connecting Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg will remain open as long as safe vehicle passage exists

Large fire burning in North Carolina

Over the weekend, fire officials in North Carolina started to get a handle on the Black Bear Fire within the Pisgah National Forest, right off of Interstate 40 near the Tennessee state line.

The fire is now at 1,740 acres and is over 40% contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service, but officials in the Southern Area Coordination Center warn it could see substantial growth and go beyond the Tennessee line.

Because of the Black Bear Fire, portions of the Appalachian Trail remain closed from I-40 to Brown Gap, including the Groundhog Creek Shelter, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.

Drivers on I-40 should watch for delays.

Where else is there a fire risk?

In Anderson County, the Windrock Mountain fire that was first reported late last week has grown to an estimated 328 acres, though it is considered 95% contained, according to the Tennessee Department for Forestry.

"Forestry is asking any people who might be in the area of the G1-G2 trail to use extreme caution," Anderson County Emergency Management Director Brice Kidwell said in a news release. "Winds are predicted to increase today and, with the mountain's terrain being altered by this fire, any high winds could uproot some trees in that area."

The Southern Area Coordination Center also warns of high risk of fire in Middle Tennessee, northern Alabama, northwest Georgia and far-western Virginia.

Sevier County and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are already under a burn ban, which includes campfires, fire pits and fires to burn fallen leaves.

Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com. Follow him on X, formally known as Twitter @tyler_whetstone.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Great Smoky Mountains National Park shuts roads, campgrounds for fire risk