GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, Tennessee – The Flint Gap wildfire, located in the remote wilderness of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has grown to 28 acres since it began on August 26.
According to the National Park Service, the wildfire began due to a lightning strike, burning slowly in an area of steep terrain and sticking primarily to undergrowth. The fire’s slow rate of growth over the last several days is attributed to high humidity, a lack of wind, and shaded terrain, though a change in weather conditions may lead to more growth.
Rainfall is expected in the area over the weekend, potentially slowing the burn further for a period. However, the weather is unlikely to extinguish it in its entirety as a dense tree canopy and a tick layer of plant material in the area cover the fire.
“Park management and the fire incident management team are implementing a strategy to safely and effectively suppress the fire, given that it is burning in very steep, backcountry terrain with dense tree cover.” – National Park Service
The location of the wildfire is incredibly difficult to reach, taking firefighters more than two hours to reach on foot from both Parsons Branch Road or from Abrams Creek. Additionally, quick evacuation from the area is near impossible, as no helispot locations exist.
Ground crews and a Type 3 helicopter are currently working on the fire, while Park officials work on gathering more resources to fight. Unfortunately, due to the high number of fires in the Western United States, resources are extremely limited.