Smoke from a nearby wildfire in the Great Smoky Mountains has left the city of Gatlinburg with near zero visibility and skies as dark as night. Images on social media show the city under a dirty brown haze of smoke that has blown in from the Chimney Tops fire blazing about 10 miles outside of the city limits.
According to WBIR, the smoke has prompted Sevier County School officials to move students from Pi Beta Phi Elementary to the Rocky Top Athletic Facility. Several roads, including Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee Orchard Road and Elkmont Road have been closed, as well as several trails in the park as the fire fueled by ever-increasing winds continues to grow. FULL REPORT
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