Similar Content: Brush Fire Trucks Are Designed for Florida Terrain
5 Fire Engines Destroyed in Tennessee Wildfire
A group of firefighters made a stand in an effort to protect a structure in Sevier County when they were overtaken by the flames and had to abandon their vehicles to take refuge.
Christy Grimes・Former Senior Editor
The Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department lost its tanker, when firefighters were forced to abandon their vehicles to shelter in place.
Photo: Pittman Center Volunteer Fire Department
2 min to read
Five fire vehicles were destroyed during fire crews' response to the Hatcher Mountain-Indigo Lane wildfire in Sevier County, Tennessee, which has been burning since Wednesday morning. The fire is burning near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg.
The Wears Valley Fire Department lost its new wildland firefighting truck, when firefighters were forced to abandon their vehicles to shelter in place.
Photo: Wears Valley Fire Department
In a press conference streamed by WBIR in Knoxville, Pigeon Forge Fire Department Chief Tony Watson explained that a group of firefighters made a stand in an effort to protect a structure on the mountain when they were overtaken by the flames and had to take refuge to let the fire pass them, abandoning their vehicles. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters said four county agency fire engines and one state agency fire engine were impacted. The departments are now asking for donations to purchase new vehicles. to Two firefighters were also injured.
The Sevier County Fire Department lost one of its tankers, when firefighters were forced to abandon their vehicles to shelter in place.
Photo: Sevier County Fire Department
As of late Sunday, the Hatcher Mountain-Indigo Lane Fire has burned 2,498 acres, and is 98% contained, according to the Sevier County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). Approximately 300 structures have been impacted. A reported 120 fire vehicles have assisted on the local level, 31 vehicles have assisted on the state level, and five Army Air National Guard helicopters have assisted in the air, according to Tim Phelps, communications and outreach unit leader with the Tennessee Division of Forestry.
The Northview-Kodak Fire Department lost one of its engines, when firefighters were forced to abandon their vehicles to shelter in place.
Photo: Northview-Kodak Fire Department
One helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing last Thursday due to equipment issues on the aircraft, according to a statement from the Guard. No passengers were injured.
A reported 120 fire vehicles have assisted on the local level and 31 vehicles have assisted on the state level to battle the Hatcher Mountain-Indigo Lane wildfire in Sevier County, Tennessee.
Photo: Sevier County Emergency Management Agency
Firefighters are now battling a second wildfire, which is being called the Millstone Gap Fire. That fire, which has burned 678 acres, is 60% contained, according to the Sevier County EMA. At least two structures have been affected. Mayor Waters said it's located in a remote area at the edge of Sevier County and Blount County, in a mountainous terrain that was initially difficult for crews to access. Around half a dozen fire response vehicles have assisted with that fire.
Editor's Note: This article was updated on 4/4/2022 with more recent fire containment stats and photos.
More Operations
Emergency Response, Fleet Sales and New Technology
This week’s fleet news covers emergency preparedness, shifting vehicle sales, electric truck investments, and new tools for monitoring road conditions.
Read More →
NCDOT Adds Dash Cam Imagery to Statewide Traffic Monitoring
North Carolina transportation officials are adding another set of eyes to roads that aren't covered by fixed traffic cameras. A statewide deployment gives NCDOT access to on-vehicle imagery to verify conditions during work zones, severe weather, emergencies, and other traffic events.
Read More →
Turning a Bottleneck Into a Blueprint: How Tallahassee Rethought Police Fleet Readiness
For Tallahassee, finally receiving 87 delayed police cruisers created a new problem: how to get them on the road without creating a massive backlog. The solution would change more than the upfit process.
Read More →
AI, Police Fleet Readiness and Fire Apparatus News
See how AI, a reworked police-vehicle upfitting process, and a fire apparatus acquisition could affect public fleet operations.
Read More →
Sponsored•September 4, 2026
Stay ready, set and safer with verified fleet inspections.
When fleet inspections aren’t verifiable, missed defects can quickly become downtime, safety risks, and service delays. This white paper shows government and municipal fleet leaders how digital inspections can improve accountability, catch issues earlier, and keep vehicles ready when they’re needed most.
Read More →
How AI and Automation Work Together to Reduce Government Fleet Downtime
As their assets age and their budgets’ purchasing power shrinks, government fleet managers are facing growing pressure to do more with less.
Read More →
Police Fleet Innovation, EV Strategy and AI
See how public fleets are rethinking police vehicle readiness, electrification, workplace culture, and driver workflows.
Read More →
From What He Inherited to What He’ll Leave Behind: David Renschler’s Lessons in Leadership
David Renschler walked into Fairfield with plenty to learn and no idea what awaited him. Twenty years later, the lessons from what came next are still shaping his approach to fleet.
Read More →
Have Fleets Changed Enough to Solve the Technician Shortage?
Are government fleets finally closing the gap on the technician shortage, or are critical challenges still holding them back?
Read More →
How Public Fleets Are Rethinking Vehicles, EVs, and Culture
From mission-specific vehicles to EV planning and culture change, this week’s stories show how public fleets are rethinking the way they operate.
Read More →