A wildland fire that burnt on the eastern slope of Lookout Mountain in the boundaries of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia was started by a rockslide, according to the National Park Service.
The wildfire was first reported on Saturday, December 7, near the Hardy Trail. A thorough investigation of the fire conducted by a National Park Service investigator determined that it was a natural event, beginning around 5:30am that day.
Based on the investigation, a large rockslide likely caused by freeze/thaw action tumbled from the top of the mountain toward the Ochs Highway. As the boulders fell, striking trees and other rocks along the way, they created immense heat and sparks. They also appear to have pushed a tree onto a power line, another possible cause of the burn.
Evidence on the scene points toward the rockslide as the probable cause of the fire. No evidence of human activity was found where the fire began. The fire is currently 100% controlled and fully contained.