Displaying items by tag: wears valley wildfire
ORNL researcher models fire’s growing footprint in a changing climate
Wild turkeys forage in charred hardwood forest soon after the 2016 Gatlinburg fires, which moved from the Smokies to developed areas in Sevier County. An ORNL model predicts wildfire threats will increase in the Southern Appalachians because of climate change. Thomas Fraser/Hellbender Press via Knoxville Mercury
ORNL report: Local wildfire danger will likely loom larger because of climate change
OAK RIDGE — This cruel summer, the Southern Appalachian region is already baking in above-normal temperatures and basking in poor air quality.
Air temperatures in Knoxville flirted with 100 degrees on July 6, which were well above average and prompted the National Weather Service to issue a heat advisory for much of the metropolitan area.
It’s hard to definitively link a heat wave to global warming, but one oft-cited consequence of climate change is the growing intensity of wildfires, even in the traditionally moisture-rich Appalachians. The range of climate change effects is difficult to pin down, but one constant in the study of climate change is an expected increase in overall temperatures, which can power wildfires via both fuel increases and volatility.
- oak ridge national laboratory
- wildfire
- wildfire risk
- climate change wildfire
- jaifu mao
- thanksgiving fire of 2016
- sevier county wildfire
- wears valley wildfire
- brush clearing for wildfire
- smokies wildfire mitigation
- smokies fire
- computational earth model system
- peter thornton
- southern appalachian bioregion
- southern appalachian climate change
- southeast wildfire risk
- heat wave
- global warming
- earth system model
- wildfire carbon emission
- ornl
- 2016 sevier county wildfire
Updated: Hatcher Mountain fire nearly extinguished; 300 structures affected
Sevier County Emergency Management Agency
Forest fire above Wears Valley in Sevier County nears full containment; Seymour fire under control
UPDATE APRIL 4: The Sevier County Emergency Management Agency said the Hatcher Mountain/Indigo Lane fire is largely extinguished. Fire crews continue to further subdue the Millstone Gap fire near the Sevier/Blount county line.
The National Weather Service warns of continued high fire danger citing breezy winds and low humidity. Widespread rainfall is forecasted to fall beginning tomorrow.
Officials said the Hatcher Mountain fire ultimately burned 2,500 acres, and damaged or destroyed 300 structures.
UPDATE APRIL 1: Fire crews focusing on the stubborn Hatcher Mountain fire had to pivot in part early Friday to also fight a new wildfire in Seymour near the Blount and Sevier county lines.
Sevier County officials said the Wears Valley-area fire was 45-percent contained this afternoon following a significant brew-up late Thursday. At least 100 structures/dwellings had been “affected” by the fire, which has consumed at least 3,739 acres. Numerous rental cabins and homes have been lost.