Authorities in Tennessee have declared a state of emergency in Pigeon Forge due to a large fire. CNN reported that the National Guard was sent in on Monday to control the wildfire.
It reportedly started around 5 p.m. on Sunday and spread quickly, hitting more than 30 cabins. There were approximately 20 fire departments on the scene fighting the fire.
"Propane tanks have been exploding," Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said Sunday to CNN. "It's been real dangerous."
Watson said that the fire was ignited due to a house fire.
The Tennesean reported that the fire started at Black Bear Ridge Resort and Trappers Ridge. On Monday morning the U.S. Army came to lend a hand with Black Hawk helicopters air lifting water from Douglas Lake and dropping it on the fire.
"We thank God we're alive and everyone is safe and our possessions can be replaced. And again we had a great week here and great people down here. Hopefully we'll be back," Diane Conneeli said who had to evacuate.
Pigeon Forge is a popular area to rent cabins. Perrin Anderson a spokesman for Sevier County said to CNN affiliate WBIR-TV
"You gotta understand, it jumped across a road, several roads, and now it's racing up a hill," he said.
The fire has been partially contained said Dean Flener who is a spokesperson for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to CNN and about 150 people evacuated on Sunday. The American Red Cross opened its doors as a shelter at the Pigeon Forge Community Center.
"Pigeon Forge, in eastern Tennessee, is best known for singer Dolly Parton's theme park, Dollywood, which was not affected by the fire," reported CNN. "Positioned on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains, the area also is popular with outdoors enthusiasts and has a wide variety of other attractions, including music theaters, outlet malls, go-kart tracks and mini-golf courses."
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