Gatlinburg After the Fire - Massive Wildfire Devastates Town 

4 years later, I've re-watched this video. I'm glad to see that much of the area has recovered and the businesses are now doing so well.

Amazing how much burned down. This is better than any news coverage I saw of the town.

Dolly Parton is an amazing woman for donating that to the people who lost their homes. God bless her.

Just in case anyone would like to know. Here's a tidbit of information for ya. The only reason there are so many buildings left standing in town is due to the local fire company's. There main objective was to protect downtown at all costs. That is why there are still buildings left to see/be in, in town at all. Downtown is what's known as the County Seat. i.e. Gatlinburg. Most definitely give a huge amount of props to them and fire rescue workers. Meanwhile, while the homes and woods were raging on fire in the Chalet village, there was one person who kept going back through the police line and up the hill to rescue residents. He is a gentleman who owns a local taxi company there and is also a semi pro wrestler. Look him up in other videos. His first name is Vinnie. Cant remember his last name though. Also his wrestling partner was running around town telling people to get out. The fire dept. was too busy with town to even think about going up there. That's where all of the other departments came in handy. Also the Oslo? village sustained 0 damage due to the fact that they fired up the snow machines and slathered the hills with it.. One big slab of snow/ice to melt and put it out. They knew it was coming and decided it best to take that course of action.. Kudos for them.

Thanks for this update. I have not been to Gatlinburg since 1979. God bless those who have lost so much.

Your sincerity shined through in this vlog. It's obvious that you care for the general well being of the locals and are deeply affected by this tragedy. I think you handled this delicate situation extremely well. Awesome job!

This is horrible... My 🙏 prayers go out to the families of the 14 that passed. Thanks for sharing the footage 👍🏼

I heard Dolly Parton herself is contributing to the victims of this awful tragedy.I have so much respect for her for that....

The boys were hiking on the Chimney Tops trail in the park on Nov. 23 and tossing lit matches onto the ground around the trail, the sources said. A hiker unwittingly captured an image of the boys walking away from the trail with smoke in the background, and the teenagers' clothing helped authorities identify them, according to sources.

Very heartbreaking. Thanks for going there to show the damage & the untouched. Good job.

Great reporting Jacob. Your empathy and honesty is appreciated. I'm sure that you have helped to bring greater awareness, of the need for financial aid, for those residents that have lost everything. Bless you and Gatlinburg.

GOD BLESS ALL THE PEOPLE IN MY HOME STATE OF TENNESSEE IN GATLINBURG SURROUNDING AREA YOUR IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS THANK YOU JACOB FOR MAKING THIS BLOG GOD BLESS YOU

My heart is heavy for the folks effected by this wicked act of arson. That area of Tennessee holds a special place in my heart. I can't wait to return to those beautiful mountains again.

I am a resident of gatlinburg, and still to this day it is heartbreaking watching this! I was one of the lucky few to keep their home but I was very close to losing it! I can still recall that night and how horrified I was leaving my home and trying to escape while all this is going on! I just want to say that I still have all those who were affected in my heart! And even those who are still looking for a place to call home! God bless you guys and we will always remain mountain strong!

My heart broke when, via your video, it was confirmed that the first motel that my family stayed at in Gatlinburg back in the 1960s burned to the ground. In another, local to Gatlinburg, provider's video I saw the SECOND family owned motel we stayed in several years later AND that I stayed in as an adult in the 199os had also burned to the ground. I hope with all my heart that those responsible for setting the fires will be punished for the crimes of arson and murder.

Thank you for giving an update on this tragic event. Even though many things were lost, it is nice to see what is still left.

One of my favorite places, too. My dad and I have visited there many times. People there will rebuild. They are friendly, kind, and tough.

Still unbelievable, I've been to Gatlinburg twice, it's such an amazing place, and such a tourist trap. I love it!

The restaurant that was burnt out between 3:29 - 3:50 was The Mountain Lodge. I've eaten there sooo many times. My sister doesn't live too far from here. Her house was spared. Thank you for this video.

So very tragic, praying for all those affected. You got some amazing and heartbreaking footage thank you for sharing

Wow, I tried to hold it in, but seeing a massive part of my childhood destroyed had me weeping openly by the 8 minute mark. Thanks for answering many of the questions I had about the fire and what was affected.

I live 10 to 15 minutes away from Gatlinburg and one of our homes are burnt down cause we own a cabin up their and it was very hard for me and my family and schools people and everyone is still raising money.Thank you to all who are helping raising money for my home town.And a big thank you to the fire men and the people who risked their lives for my home town.

We have lost so many complete towns here in California, but I still weep when I see such things. God Bless the Firefighters!

Thanks for respectfully covering this, Jacob. We're heading up next week. Gatlinburg is our home away from home.

i knew miss, pam i do hope they find her she was the most wonderful person in the world and loved everyone and so sweet. i am having a hard time dealing with this and hope to get up there soon .

Thank you Great report. Wish we had news reporters half as good as you.

This is one of my most favorite places to visit. When this happened, I was so saddened. Your video really hits home. Thank you for all you do! Your channel is amazing :)

Thank you so much for this video. It is a tragedy that I can forget so quickly. Everyone needs to continue to pray for this community. And yes, definitely people do need to go to Gatlinburg and support these folks if possible. Bless you for posting this.

You have the distinction of being the ONLY Carpetbagger a burnt South would welcome. God Bless ya Man !

Jacob, thank you so much for this video. You've answered so many questions my family had regarding what was damaged or destroyed by the fires. I've visited this area since I was a kid and it really breaks my heart knowing someone could be so hateful to do such a thing. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who loss loved ones and those affected.

THANK YOU FOR EXCELLENT REPORT

Sincerest thanks for going and sharing this footage. My husband and I love this place so much and had our first vacation here. It breaks my heart to see so much devastation but I am so glad to see so much remaining as well. ♡ Much love to the folks.

Great to see the area has recovered, and great reporting buddy, very informational and gave proper context with emotions. You should be a reporter

Thank you for sharing this with us. This is so awful. Unimaginable.

Gut wrenching!! I'm glad you went up to show us how bad it truly was. Those poor people!!

I'm in Gatlinburg right now and they have fully recovered from that fire. It's amazing how much damage that fire did and driving through yesterday you never would have known.

Good video, you came off very respectful.

Thanks for posting this vlog. The fire in Gatlinburg really was heartbreaking for me because of all the memories of past vacations and thinking about all the lives and jobs lost. Continuing to pray for the people of Gatlinburg.

I have tried to watch this video many times and it has taken me over a year to finally see it... My broken heart...

When news of the wildfires broke I immediately thought of the recent trips that you, Adam the Woo and others took to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. It's so sad to see what's happened to the place :(

Thanks for the update. My heart goes out to the community.

Thank you so much for filming this video! I hold a very special place in my heart for the Smokies & it was so sad but also nice to see it on video like this. I am thankful the first reports I read online were false & that the whole town was not a complete loss. My prayers are with the families who lost their homes & businesses. I truly wish I could go help clean up!

Hope and Prayers for a speedy recovery for Gatlinburg - one of my very favorite tourist towns!

thank you Jacob for showing this horrible devastation with such deep respect, I have watched so many of you and ATW vlogs from Gatlinburg, so I knew you two would be able to cover this terrible disaster with complete regard for the city and the people... stay safe in your travels...

Shout out to all the awesome fire fighters and other first responders that helped during the fires! HERO'S!!!

Great commentary! I can feel your concern and sincerity in your voice. Thanks for sharing!

Wow, I was just there last week, and went snowtubing at Ober Gatlinburg and hiked both Chimney Rock Trail and the Alum Cave trail! It's really something to see that something was perfectly fine a few days ago is burnt to a crisp a couple days later! Best of luck and have not been to my house yet 12 miles from Gatlinburg. Hopefully it is okay as I will be moving there on January 31!

Thank you for for this. We left the day before the evacuation after visiting for Thanksgiving. So devastating and unbelievable seeing what we saw on the news. Your reporting gave so many details we have been wondering about that we were unable to gather from the news.

Thank you for sharing. the devastation is unbelievable! i too love Gatlinburg, it is a fave place of mine and it is very sad to see what has been lost, how many families are displaced and lost everything, but the saddest part is hearing that it could have been prevented. if it had been an accident, that's one thing, but to hear that this was purposefully done to such a beloved place to so many, is just unfathomable😥 sending prayers to Gatlinburg and its residents.

What’s awesome is how the town bounces back. A couple days after the fire and they are back at entertaining tourist. My wife and I went there last weekend and there is very little traces of the fire. The trees are even bouncing back.

Thank you for capturing Jacob

Thank you for the respect you have shown in this video. I didn't feel that you were gawking at all. I grew up going to Gatlinburg so much so that I know all the back ways between the cities and have many friends that live in the area. Prayers continue to be with the town folks... I can't imagine.

Thank you for sharing. My wife and I got married in Gatlinburg back in August and this really hit home for us. We appreciate you updating all of us on what has happened there. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the video. Been to Gatlinburg several times and have always loved it. It's so upsetting to see all of this devastation. Perhaps you can visit again in a few months to show us how the rebuilding process is going. Thanks again for keeping us in the loop. Take care.

My sister & I have played miniature golf at the Hillbilly Golf business!! It is so much fun! Love it!!

Thanks for the update Jacob,we visit Gatlinburg yearly and I was concerned about our home away from home during at least one week during the summer.

I went to Gatlinburg in 2006 and man I loved it so much. Very beautiful city and the people are nice, it saddened me when I heard about this fire and the fact people lost their lives because of these kids. I hope the people of Gatlinburg will recover soon.

I live in Knoxville and it is so sad. All those poor people. I think of how much they've lost. Not everyone can afford insurance. Dolly Parton never forgot where she came from and is truly a National Treasure!

Thank you for showing this town and damage. I will holiday there in the near future to support them.

Thank you for showing this. My heart aches for Gatlinburg and Pigeon forge and everyone else affected.

I think the emotional connection you have with this place really shows in your footage, and elevates this beyond a simple entertainment. It's a respectful take on this tragic event. Thanks for doing this...I'm sure it wasn't fun.

I stayed in pigeon forge last month, cant believe it

Thank you for the video. I appreciate how respectful you were and the info you shared. It is horrifying how just ash is left of so many places, that people lost everything. I had heard Dolly Parton was helping but was unaware of the extent of her generosity.

Thank you Jacob for the update video. You could make a wonderful news reporter.

Just returned from Gatlinburg this week, they have cleaned up a lot of the burnt things, and there were very many people there. Still fun, still the best vacation spot. Ever. Thanks for the video.

Thank you for going and showing the damage. It breaks my heart that so many lost their homes and their lives because someone was bored. I'm just glad that the firefighters and other emergency workers were able to help and prevent more damage.

Thank you, Carpetbagger, for showing how much damage there was. I've not been back since the fire, and was worried sick during the whole thing. Breaks my heart to see so much damage, so many traditional stops completely ruined. You're a trooper! Thanks for the insight!

Have seen you a few times with THE WOOOOOOOOOOOO. Decided to check you out. This was the perfect one to be introduced to new viewers. I think you handled it well with MUCH respect. Documenting a disaster is not ghoulish nor in bad taste. It SHOULD be done and also in the way that you did it. I subscribed. Thanks.

Great video Jacob. I hope the town can get all the help they need to recover.

This is my home! 4 years later I'm still devastated, my life has not been right since 11/28/16 I have PTSD now. Watching this video brings back memories of a horrific night, I know the untold stories. I thank God everyday that I made it through this night. And I know people that did not make it and I miss them people so much. Gatlinburg will never be the same again not the Gatlinburg that I know. My soul will be scarred forever

Man so awful. I've seen Adam the woos videos of the area and always wanted to visit. The devastation is unbelievable

my grandparents were in this fire. they drove out of gatlinburg with a branch through their wind shield and clothes burning on their bodies. we are blessed they made it out alive

I really appreciate your video. We go to Gatlinburg every year, and in fact we were there the week of November 14-20, just days before this happened. We were devastated to see the videos and news as this was happening. My prayers go out to those who lost loved ones and to so many who lost their homes and property. I can tell you for sure, we'll be back for our annual trip next year. I believe Gatlinburg will recover, it is a loving community with great people. We look forward to coming back next year. May God bless the great folks of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area.

Thank you Jacob for investing the time to make this video.

Devastating- thanks for update from Gatlinburg

This is just astonishing and so tragic. Thank you for documenting this event.

Thank you so much Jacob for documenting the damage. It's heartbreaking seeing all that devastation and thinking about what everyone went thru during the fire. Gatlinburg has suffered greatly and those responsible need to be punished.

I know this is years old, but I want to say your concern and care cane through very well. So many videos are just ghoulish gawker's, but yours had a different tone that is appreciated. Thank you.

so sad, one of my favorite places. Thank you for the vlog, no one would think you were gawking, if they watched your video. You filmed with respect and your compassion and love for Gatlinburg showed through. Well Done!

My wife and I have went there for years...YOU ARE NO GHOUL. Just someone that loves the area as much as we do, I can tell in your voice you HAVE all the right reasons in your heart to post this. GREAT WORK. If you go back can you get some video of The Westgate Resorts we own/owned there and have heard from them it really got hit. THANKS AGAIN

The best video of the aftermath of the Gatlinburg fires. GOOD JOB!!

thank you for showing this...I have gone to gatlinburg since I was a kid. my mom called it Hillbilly Vegas. glad my favorite places survived. heartbroken for the loses.

I went up to Gatlinburg on Sunday 2/5/17. Your video is representative of what it is still looks like. It is amazing that one building is left standing and the building next to it burned down. Very random as to where the wind blew the burning leaves and embers, affecting both sides of the Parkway. The chair lift that you and Adam rode on is out of service as it suffered damage at the top of the hill. The tram is still operational.

Great video Carpetbagger. Our hearts and prayers have been with Gatlinburg since day one. I love Gatlinburg and renting a cabin in the woods.

Thank you Carpetbagger for a well done video of the areas of destruction in Gatlinburg. We are very fond of the area and visit sometime a couple of times a year, we were married there 24 years ago this coming March. Unfortunately, the pastor that married us, Ed Taylor, was a victim of the fires. Thank you again for your video, keep up the good work!

Thank you. I have been there so many times. GOD BLESS.

Aww, that's so sad ! My family and I stayed in the hotel that you show with pool with the sludge in it . It was many years ago . Thanks for sharing !

Thank you sir, lots of folks wondered how the city was doing. we appropriate you keeping us informed. its heartbreaking. i had no idea the fires were set.

I saw me in your video!!!! I lost my home and my 2 dogs sadly. Was announced two teens set the fires.

Thank you for this video. You answered a lot of questions I had after the tragedy. My family visited there for so many years during my childhood and to see it on fire broke my heart. I no longer live in TN so it was difficult for me to get an idea on how far the fires had reached without actually seeing it. My heart goes out to the families that were effected by this.

Thank you so much for this video. You did a great job. So sorry for those who were affected by that fire and have to come back from the devastation. God bless Dolly and all those who are helping them to recover. This was the first video I've ever seen of yours. Again, thank you.

Thank you The Carpetbagger. I went to Gatlinburg many years ago. Its sad to see this kind of destruction. I watched that video you mentioned with the guy driving through the fire and it was the scariest thing I've ever seen.

I live 300 miles away and this devastates even me so I can't imagine what the folks directly affected by this tragedy is going through. First and foremost my heart goes out to the families and friends of the 14 people lost and to all those who lost homes and businesses. Secondly the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area means so much to so many and to see these beautiful mountains burned and the destruction really saddens me. I'm 44 and my memories go back to when I was 12. I know in time these people will rebuild and the mountains will recover and my family and I definitely plan on doing our small, minute part in helping make that happen by visiting multiple times this year. The tourists still need to come. God bless this entire area.

It's so sad and thanks for sharing the great footage. We love that town. We have a group of 12 going over the 4th

I'm so sad....sure feel sorry for their loss....God bless you all.....

Thorough yet respective documentation of the area after the wildfire. I subscribed. 👍

On family vacation in Gatlinburg. Amazing how in August 2017 how the area has bounced back. Beautiful area so glad we came!

Excellent coverage of the fire damage. I am glad to see that the businesses are back open and the strip looks okay. I saw somewhere that the mysterious mansion had previously installed a bunch of lawn sprinklers around the house and turned them on when the fire got close. Must have helped save the place.

thanks for the good video. The restaurant you were at at about 3:30 on the vid was called the Mountain Lodge btw; it was a place locals loved, & my parents & I ate breakfast there all the time when we visited G'burg. :(

Just being there and seeing this destruction will forever be in my memories. GREAT VLOG!!! Thanks Jacob!!