Flint Gap Fire burns inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park; 10 acres burned so far
A wildland fire reported inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Monday has led to road, trail and campsite closures in the park, according to park officials.
As of Wednesday, these closures continue to be in place as crews try to control the fire.
The fire, named the Flint Gap Fire, was estimated to be about 10 acres as of Tuesday, Aug. 27 at around noon. According to a press release, no structures are under threat at this time.
The fire is located near Hannah Mountain in Tennessee, south of Abrams Creek inside of the park. It was originally reported on the evening of Aug. 26, and officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans North Carolina and Tennessee. The fire has been reported in Tennessee, roughly 50 miles southeast of Knoxville and near the North Carolina border.
The Tennessee National Guard has provided aviation support with bucket drops on the fire on Tuesday afternoon and will continue to support fire personnel throughout Wednesday, officials said.
What is the status of the Flint Gap Fire?
Additional aerial and ground resources were scheduled to arrive at the park on Wednesday morning and throughout the next several days, including: a
- Type 3 Incident Commander
- 3 Suppression Modules consisting of 7-10 personnel each
- 1 Type 3 Helicopter.
Where is Great Smoky Mountain National Park closed?
Closures in the park are as follows:
- Backcountry campsites 14, 15 and 16.
- Parson Branch Road
- Rabbit Creek Trail from Abrams Creek to Cades Cove is closed.
- Hannah Mountain Trail from Parson Branch Road to Little Bottom Trail.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation assisted park officials with a flyover on Tuesday to help with fire mapping and monitoring.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.