04/02/2022
We are doing our part and donating today to these men and women that keep us safe from the wildfires!
If you can, please do your part.
On the morning of March 30, 2022, Wears Valley Fire Department was dispatched to a wind driven brush fire in the area of Indigo Way on Hatcher Mountain. With extremely dry conditions the fire escalated quickly.
WVFD crews with the assistance of our neighboring departments and law enforcement began evacuating the homes and cabins on the mountain. Their quick actions allowed all the residents to evacuate safely. However, a worker on a piece of equipment was burned and was transported to the hospital.
Like many of the mountain communities in Sevier County, Hatcher Mountain is a series of dead end roads that all connect to one main road. Firefighters from Wears Valley, Kodak, Sevier County, and Pittman Center fire departments were at the end of one of these dead end roads attempting to protect the houses from the approaching flames. The flames quickly grew over 30 feet tall and swept across the road blocking their only escape route. Years of training and quick thinking allowed the firefighters to escape into the woods and reach safety.
Unfortunately, all of the fire trucks that were operating in this area were destroyed by the fire. Kodak lost an engine, Pittman Center and Sevier County each lost tankers, and our department lost our nearly new wildland firefighting truck.
Words cannot express our appreciation to the agencies that have come from across the southeast to assist us. We have crews from all areas of Tennessee and as far away as Florida.
Our community support during this has been incredible. Residents and businesses have provided food, drinks, and other supplies for our exhausted crews.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Valley View Baptist Church for providing space for our command post. Their members also kept their fellowship hall open and staffed around the clock as a rehabilitation center for our crews to get a hot meal before headed back up the mountain.
Many of you have reached out to us looking to donate to our department. Donations can be made through our Venmo account or by mailing checks to
3339 Mattox Cemetery
Sevierville, TN 37862
Thank you again for all of your continued prayers and support!