Gatlinburg Fires Aftermath

Two teenagers were charged with arson yesterday after it was revealed that they had started the Gatlinburg wildfires. Said fires left 14 dead and around 175 injured.

The two teens were dropping lit matches onto the ground near a trail when a fire started and quickly got out of control. Environmental science teacher Twyla Maxtion’s insight on wildfires provides more information about them as well as cautionary words toward future nature-bound tourists.
“Volcanoes, lightning, spontaneous combustion [could start fires],” Maxtion said. “[As well as a] human’s negligence such as intentional arson, equipment sparks, discarded cigarettes, unattended campfires, [and] power lines.”

It has been reported that some possible causes as to why the damage was so severe was due to an ongoing drought. The lack of rain in the area left the ground especially dry and allowed the flames to spread quickly. These conditions led to even worse consequences.

“[Fires] disrupt food chains and food webs [and] disrupt natural cycles,” Maxtion said. “[They also] eliminate native species.”

Over 2,400 buildings were destroyed in the wildfires, including businesses, homes and other structures. Wildfires such as this could also potentially cause long-standing damage to the environment around the incident.

“[Some effects are the] destroying of habitats and homes, [as well as the] disruption of food chains and natural processes,” Maxtion said.

Catastrophes such as these can be easily prevented. Although the Gatlinburg fires were semi-intentional, a good portion of wildfires start purely by accident. The prevention of these fires can be as easy as a few steps.

“Be responsible when in the forest [by] following rules and laws [and] reporting incidents when noticed,” Maxtion said.

When living in vulnerable areas, prevention methods are good to learn in the event of an emergency. When traveling, researching the type of environment of the area could aid in planning emergency procedures. Over 12 million people visit Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains each year, according to Gatlinburg’s official website. The tourism industry could potentially be severely affected by the recent events.

“[I believe the] tourist industry will be damaged, but will recover fairly quickly,” Maxtion said.