Wears Valley wildfire 100% contained Wednesday afternoon

Posted: Apr 6, 2021 / 04:25 PM EDT

Updated: Apr 7, 2021 / 03:46 PM EDT

WEARS VALLEY, Tenn. (WATE) — UPDATE: As of 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, the Wears Valley wildfire is reportedly 100% contained.

This, according to Sevier County Assistant Mayor Perrin Anderson.

UPDATE (4/7 10:00 A.M.): Fire crews remained at the scene of the Wears Valley fire throughout the night and the blaze is now 85% contained, said Sevier County Assistant Mayor Perrin Anderson.

Residents evacuated from the area were allowed to return to their homes around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

Update: Tennessee Division of Forestry reports the 20-acre wildfire in Wears Valley is now 70% contained.

TDOF also has listed the fire as controlled.

As of 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the 20-acre wildfire in Wears Valley is 40% contained. One structure had been damaged and there was one minor injury reported by Assistant County Mayor Perrin Anderson.

Around 100 firefighters around East Tennessee have responded to this fire and will continue to work throughout the night.

The call of the fire came in around 2:30 p.m., and fire crews arrived to find a fast-moving wildfire.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture reports they have 17 personnel, two dozers, and two engines on site as well.

🔥 Little Cove Rd Fire – Sevier Co.
Downs Farms Subdivision
20 acres; 40% contained
One structure damaged; one minor injury
100 firefighters from multiple agencies.
TDF assisting with 17 personnel, 2 dozers, 2 engines
Unified command with Sevier Co.
Crews will work overnight. pic.twitter.com/xfm7MWBdmK
— TN Dept. of Ag (@TNAgriculture) April 6, 2021

EARLIER: 2 homes burned, others evacuated in Wears Valley as wildfire grows

Two homes and about 75 acres have burned in Wears Valley as crews work to extinguish a brush fire that began along Little Cove Road this afternoon.

Homes have been evacuated along Alf Ownby Road, Wears Mountain Lane, Autumn View Way and others in that area, according to Sevier County dispatch. Some homes in the Dogwood Farms subdivision are also evacuated, according to Blount County Fire Chief Doug McClanahan.

Witnesses describe the fire as being “several acres.”

The Tennessee Division of Forestry wildfire website reports a 20-acre fire that is 40% contained as of 5:45 p.m.

Crews from Seymour, Catons Chapel and other departments from across Sevier County are assisting. McClanahan says his crews from Blount County are assisting as well.

The fire is near the same area that burned in the 2016 wildfires.

No word yet on what might have caused the fire.