COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — UPDATE: (4/3, 3:40 p.m.):
A public affairs officer with the Cherokee National Forest said after crews worked through the night into Wednesday morning to contain a fire in the area of Hartford Road. It was 20% contained and the spokesperson also said it had grown to around 63 acres.
"Fire crews worked feverishly all day Tuesday and into the Tuesday night to secure control lines ahead of the wind event we saw last night. The fire was staffed well into the night and saw rain impacting the fire beginning at approximately 1:00 AM. Crews returned to the scene early this morning and began evaluating activity from last night," said James Heaton in a release, the spokesperson.
He said crews were working in the "mop-up" phase of the fire, searching for signs of heat and addressing them, to make sure hot spots don't flare back up. They are also searching for any snags along the fire line which could allow the blaze to escape.
"Mop-up is a grueling and meticulous process that often continues for days. The rainfall the fire saw last night is a welcome aid to fire personnel during this process however, as always, it will eventually dry out again," he said.
He also said crews will return to the scene on Thursday to continue containment efforts. Hartford Road would stay closed from Denton Road to Linsey Gap Road.
UPDATE (4/2, 10:30 a.m.): Cocke County Emergency Management Agency provided an update regarding a wildfire in Cocke County that began Monday night.
The fire, which is near the area of Hartford Road and Denton Road, is estimated to be 20% contained. Hartford Road is closed from Denton Road to Lindsey Gap Road, according to Cocke County EMA.
The fire has disturbed the underbrush and root system and there's now a danger of rock falling onto Hartford Road. Residents should be extremely cautious going to and from their homes and watch for falling rocks or boulders, the Cocke County EMA said.
The few structures that are threatened by this fire are being protected by fire crews, however, the anticipated storms Tuesday evening could blow the fire across containment lines. Ultimately, the rain should help with putting out the fire, according to Cocke County EMA.
Hartford Road will be closed for the whole day on Tuesday, according to the Cocke County EMA.
No one will be injured and no structures have been damaged, the Cocke County EMA said.
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Crews responded to the scene of a wildland fire in Cocke County Monday night, the Newport Rescue Squad said on social media.
The rescue squad said at around 9 p.m. on Monday that it was providing rehab services, and also provided an area for a command post near the location of the fire.
It also said multiple agencies were on the scene of the fire near Cosby, including Grassy Fork Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Cocke County Fire Department, Parrotsville Volunteer Fire Department, Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department, Tennessee Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service.
Be careful in the area as there will be smoke and first responders present, said the NRS.
Additional information about the fire, such as its cause and whether any injuries were reported, was not immediately available. This story will be updated when more information is available.