Tenn. Forestry Crews Fight Multiple Arson Fires

Due to lower humidity, gusty winds and multiple fires across East Tennessee, Blount and Loudon counties were among 24 counties that did not issue burn permits over the weekend.

Other counties that were barred from issuing burn permits were Anderson, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington.

The Division of Forestry responded to four suspected arson fires Saturday in Campbell and Scott counties.

Information on burn permits are available online at burnsafetn.org and by phone at Division of Forestry offices in Blount County at 982-6264 and in Loudon County at 986-8395.

Residents are encouraged to check with their local Forestry offices to learn when their county will begin issuing permits again.

Chance of rain

The National Weather Service at Morristown forecast a chance of rain showers this evening in Blount County with showers likely after midnight.

By state law, anyone doing outdoor burning from Oct. 15-May 15 is required to obtain a free burn permit from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Forestry Division.

The Division of Forestry crews fought existing fires along Smokey Creek Road in Scott County, and north of LaFollette on Tenn. 25 toward Jellico in Campbell County. These fires burned a total of 205 acres. All were suspected arson.

new fires

Three new fires in Campbell were set along Tenn. 25 and the Cumberland Trail, with a mile of the Ivydale fire, which has burned 150 acres. Forestry personnel, the LaFollette Fire Department and county volunteer fire departments responded and the new blazes were quickly extinguished, limiting the burned areas to less than 15 acres. Two firefighters were slightly injured suppressing these fires.

Scott County fire burned on Brimstone Mountain and Norma Road, where there have also been repeated arson sets. Waldens Ridge in Anderson County had a breakout which was contained. The Briceville fire on Tenn. 116 was rechecked.

Forestry crews re-checked fires Sunday in Anderson, Scott and Campbell counties, and worked to get containment lines around the large Westborne Mountain fire in Campbell County.

Thus far in Tennessee in 2012, about 960 fires have burned an estimated 11,500 acres statewide.

Woods arson is a class C felony punishable by three to 15 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. Anyone with information about suspected arson activity should call the state fire marshal’s arson hot line toll-free at 1-800-762-3017. Calls are kept confidential.

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