COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — Multiple fire departments in Cocke County responded to a wildfire yesterday morning in the Hall Top area . By Sunday morning, it grew to 225 acres and is now slowly being contained.
As of Sunday afternoon, the fire is currently 165 acres and is 15% contained, according to the US Forest Service. While the cause remains uncertain, authorities believe it was likely arson.
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“90 to 95% of the starts in the eastern United States are started by humans, either intentionally or unintentionally. We will likely have a Fire Investigator come in and find the point of origin for the fire, and then they’ll make a determination on it. It could be a lightning strike, but it’s pretty rare for us to have that here. But it’s not out of the question,” explained Leslie Morgan, a Ranger for the Unaka district of the Cherokee National Forest.
Scotty Chitwood lives nearby. He noticed unusual smoke coming from the mountains while in his backyard…