As you know....Fires in the Smokies

There have been numerous fires in the GSMNP up until last nights devastation took place when fires blew out of the park into the Gatlinburg area.  The winds were enormous throughout the area and were reaching over 80 mph in some parts.
The following are parts of dispatches from the GSMNP HQ that began coming out early this morning.   

"Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have closed all facilities in the park due to the extensive fire activity, and downed trees. Park Headquarters is currently without power and phone services."

"Unpredicted, extreme weather conditions on Sunday afternoon through Monday led to the exponential spread of fires both inside and outside of the National Park. Severe wind gusts of over 80 mph, unprecedented low relative humidity, and extended drought conditions caused the fire burning in the National Park to spread rapidly and unpredictably, in spite of suppression efforts on Sunday that included helicopter water drops. Wind gusts carried burning embers long distances causing new spot fires to ignite across the north-central area of the park and into Gatlinburg. In addition, high winds caused numerous trees to fall throughout the evening on Monday bringing down power lines across the area that ignited additional new fires that spread rapidly due to sustained winds of over 40 mph.

"Conditions remain extremely dangerous with trees expected to continue to fall. Officials are asking that motorists stay off the roadways throughout the area. Travel in the Gatlinburg area is limited to emergency traffic only. The National Park is closed at the Gatlinburg entrance."
"Hundreds of acres within the park have burned, including areas of Chimney Tops, Mt. Le Conte, Bullhead Trail, and Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail."