Raging wildfires fueled by high winds forced of thousands of people in the U.S. South to flee and were believed to have wiped out an entire resort of more than 100 buildings in the Great Smoky Mountains as National Guard troops arrived early Tuesday to help overwhelmed firefighters.
Rain had begun to fall in some areas, but experts predicted it would not be enough to end the relentless drought that has spread across several southern states and fueled fires now burning for weeks in states including Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.
The storms appeared to be taking aim at the nearly 11,330-hectare Rough Ridge Fire in north Georgia and the nearly 10,117-hectare Rock Mountain Fire that began in Georgia and then spread deep into North Carolina.
Sevier County, Tenn., Mayor Larry Waters said Tuesday afternoon that three people have died in the wildfires. Waters said he didn’t have any details on the deaths, but authorities are going door-to-door to make sure everyone is safe. About a dozen people have been injured.
Rain showers ended in the Gatlinburg, Tenn., area about 8 a.m. local time Tuesday, said National Weather Service meteorologist Sam Roberts. He said no more meaningful rainfall was expected until about midnight Tuesday, and would last through Wednesday.
From CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-south-wildfire-rain-storm-1.3872277