On November 28, 2016, a wildfire of unprecedented proportions raged across the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and the surrounding community, engulfing 17,904 acres, including 55 miles of the Park’s premier trout streams. Today, spring has sprung, and the Park remains largely ecologically intact.
The fire began atop Chimney Tops, one of GSMNP’s most popular landmarks and trails, and was fueled by severe drought conditions and winds in excess of 87 mph. In the nearby tourism town of Gatlinburg, it claimed 14 lives and numerous structures.