Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire (2016)
Sevier County (Gatlinburg), Tennessee · Nov 23, 2016 – Dec 2016
Deadliest wildfire in the eastern U.S. in decadesAcres burned
17,140
Lives lost
14
Structures destroyed
2,500
Year
2016
Evacuations
~14,000 people evacuated from Gatlinburg
What happened
The Chimney Tops 2 Fire spread from Great Smoky Mountains National Park into Gatlinburg in late November 2016, driven by extreme drought and 80+ mph winds — the deadliest wildfire in the eastern U.S. in decades.
Cause
Human-caused (juveniles)
Location
Sevier County (Gatlinburg), Tennessee
Key facts
- ▪Deadliest eastern-U.S. wildfire in decades
- ▪Spread from a national park into a resort town
- ▪14 deaths
- ▪Driven by historic drought and high winds
Replay the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2016-11-23 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2016 conditions, not the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2016 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2016 conditions — not the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Aftermath & what changed
The Gatlinburg fire shattered the assumption that destructive wildfire is a Western problem, prompting Southern Appalachian communities to adopt wildfire-preparedness and warning measures.
Could your home survive a fire like the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire?
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Related major fires
Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire FAQ
When was the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire and where did it burn?
The Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire started Nov 23, 2016 in Sevier County (Gatlinburg), Tennessee, and was contained Dec 2016.
How many acres did the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire burn?
The Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire burned approximately 17,140 acres.
How many people died in the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire?
Approximately 14 people died in the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire.
What caused the Gatlinburg (Chimney Tops 2) Fire?
Human-caused (juveniles).
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.