Gatlinburg Wildfires: the TDOT story

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The quaint southern town offers a place to vacation for some and a place to call home for others.
On November 28, 2016, devastating wildfires rained down from those beloved mountains. During the deadly, destructive fires, the Tennessee Department of Transportation played in significant role in the emergency response. Workers risked their own lives to save the lives others.
This is their story.

[@highhavencabin]

Risking your life to save others is the definition of a Hero. Well done! I'd be damn proud to work next to any of these Men.

[@UofTNFan]

I grew up in Gatlinburg and cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am to all of the heroes that came to help. You absolutely did save lives that night. I thought everything was lost as fire was virtually surrounding the whole town. In the days after the fire you could see all around you the absolutely heroic battle that was fought to save lives and to save our little city. As much as was lost, we could have lost EVERYTHING if not for brave men doing everything they could to help.

[@eddietaylor4130]

Even though my father didn't make it out that night, You guys are all heroes for the work you did during and after the fire. The death toll would have been much higher if you guys had not endangered your own lives to save others. Sincerely, Eddie Taylor

[@sherrigooding2773]

My heart goes out to you with the loss of your father. My husband & I are going to be renting a cabin in Pigeon Forge that was rebuilt after the fire.

[@conqururfear]

Wow

[@jcrpictures4405]

What part of Gatlinburg was your father in?

[@generalgringo9887]

May your dad rest in everlasting peace 💙

[@M60gunner1971]

Sorry for your loss Eddie.

[@RGC575]

As a Gatlinburg officer that worked 21 hours during the fire and two weeks straight after the fire, I can attest to the hard work and dedication that these TDOT workers displayed during the response and aftermath. They handed out equipment, kept the roads cleared so people could evacuate and mutual aid responders could respond and help. They should be recognized for their efforts and their response. Their help and the help of so many other agencies made it so much easier for the Gatlinburg agencies to focus on protecting what was left and getting the city reopened. I am just one person but I definitely appreciate the support during such a trying time. If you haven't heard it, thank you.

[@sheliabeckley5490]

THANK YOU TDOT team! And thank you for giving us a glimpse into what you did to help during those horrific hours. You are much appreciated!! God Bless each of you!

[@eltoro6688]

Damn Right you should be proud!!!!! Y'all make me proud to Reside in the state of Tennessee!!!!

[@OGUncleP]

Not only that, these men and I am sure women make us all proud to be American!

[@browncrcb]

Great video TDOT. Your guys definitely didnt get the recognition they deserve.

[@jasongraves6891]

Thank you, the house i stay at was spared, the fire got within 25ft from the house. when i gor back home i saw the water hose and some tools out that were not their before. I dont care THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT HELPED OUT. GOD BLESS

[@attilamakranczy9156]

Stayed many times up at the High Chalet condos above the Ski Lodge and glad to hear that hardly any damage to that beautiful place. Going back soon again as I had always said it was my little world of serenity above the clouds.

[@davidhuff7758]

you guys are all heroes, thanks for all you did.

[@stardust1253]

3:24 when he took that pause all I could think was “…you don’t train for the environment you are working in to be on fire.”

[@beslim15]

Heros, plain and simple!

[@candycebradshaw535]

My poppy was on there he was terry Bradshaw

[@M60gunner1971]

I hear the real death toll was in the hundreds, hey didn't report the illegals that died in the fire.

[@Progressive_Logic]

M60gunner1971 no one wants to hear your propaganda, you alt-right asshole!

[@futurecorpse7330]

ProgressiveLogic yes cause that makes you alt right lmao, if that makes you feel he’s saying that in a negative way then since you’re so progressive why wouldn’t you be concerned that these immigrants that died are forgot about? In what way would stating the death toll was higher cause of illegals be considered right wing propaganda? Why are you so sensitive you social justice warrior there was no politics brought into this just the mention of human lives dying you act as if he blamed illegals for the fire, it’s not even propaganda I mean you can’t 100% verify it so I mean I guess it’s in a way just rumors but online you can find many people stating that the death toll was indeed significantly higher then reported some of that info was passed on by the fire fighters, I really don’t know the demographics of the area but I’ve definitely heard that yes there is a large immigrant population whether illegal or legal the word on the street is that there is a pretty significant population around the area. When a fire kills people for the most part they have to go through things such as dental records or dna and if there’s nothing to be found then that body is probably illegal, if anything when mentioning illegal immigrants in this case they are basically lost which isn’t what you want for your fellow humans, I’m sure there’s processes etc to identify but I’m thinking more logically as in somebody’s family member is gone without trace and not even reported as a death period illegal or not illegal, don’t be ignorant you tool.