Shocking footage of Tennessee blaze shows scale of damage (VIDEOS, PHOTOS)
Tennessee is burning and the mainstream media doesn’t care – according to many social media users. Footage of the fires near Gatlinburg shows the full extent of the blaze.
#Gatlinburgpic.twitter.com/XnFHKuAy7V
— Eric Long (@EricLong1972) November 29, 2016
#Gatlinburgpic.twitter.com/arxYJniu1J
— Eric Long (@EricLong1972) November 29, 2016
Firefighters are desperately battling the fire which covers an area of the Great Smoky Mountains located beside the town of Gatlinburg, popular with tourists due to its close proximity to Dollywood theme park.
Welcome to the Great Smokey Mountains #Gatlinburg#gatlinburgfirepic.twitter.com/Y6JlJ5Vx4g
— Eric Ross (@pastorericross) November 28, 2016
Arson has been suspected, which has led to an evacuation of residents to a Red Cross shelter at Gatlinburg Community Center and a converted shelter at a local sports facility.
READ MORE: Huge fire forces evacuations near national park in Tennessee, arson suspected
"Nobody is allowed into the city at this time," the National Weather Service Morristown Tennessee tweeted. "Evacuate immediately and follow any instructions from emergency officials."
Save our beautiful mountains 😩#Gatlinburgpic.twitter.com/RqvOhwuVTL
— Everything TN (@Everything_TN) November 29, 2016
#Gatlinburg this is the wedding chappel in Gatlinburg @spann@kingofkingsportpic.twitter.com/D4JloGqFoi
— LadyJsReviews (@ItsJustMeJen75) November 29, 2016
The Mountain Lodge Restaurant is no longer with us 😔#Gatlinburgpic.twitter.com/U5tQIBv8Ig
— Everything TN (@Everything_TN) November 29, 2016
Some people took to social media to express frustration as to why the fire wasn’t being covered by the mainstream media. “If you wonder why people have lost faith in today's media, an entire town is currently on fire and no-one is talking about it,” one tweet read.
If you wonder why people have lost faith in today's media, an entire town is currently on fire and no one is talking about it #Gatlinburg
— Ken (@KenAndTonic) November 29, 2016
#Gatlinburg is burning tonight and the 24/7 cable nets are re-running political prime-time programming. Yes, you should be angry.
— Zach Thaxton (@ZachThaxton) November 29, 2016
An entire city burns to the ground and who's covering it? @CNN@ABC@FoxNews@MSNBC@NBCNews? This is why you aren't trusted. #Gatlinburg
— Ron (@Ron_1006) November 29, 2016
As someone from California, seeing the lack of coverage of the #Gatlinburg fire makes me completely understand why Southerners hate the MSM.
— Rashad Alaiyan (@rashadalaiyan) November 29, 2016
Despite rainfall in the area late Monday the fire is still blazing, with 30 structures reported to have caught fire in Gatlinburg, including a 16-story hotel according to Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
Road into #Gatlinburg is closed. Waiting to hear more from officials. Rain should help fight these fires. @WKRNpic.twitter.com/YMVoxqIXhh
— Brent Remadna (@RemadnaWKRN) November 29, 2016
My drummer tells me that rain is starting to fall just in time around Gatlinburg, TN. Hopefully, this will help douse the fires. 🙏🏼
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 29, 2016
