Rescue Efforts In Gatlinburg Turn To Those Missing Since The Wildfire

First-responders in Gatlinburg are turning their attention to those who’ve been reported missing since the deadly wildfire that tore through town Monday night.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has set up a special hotline. Spokesperson Leslie Earhart says one hundred calls came in the first 24 hours.

“As of this morning, agents were following up on approximately 70 leads,” she said at a press conference Thursday. “That doesn’t mean that there are 70 people missing necessarily, but we do have to follow-up on all those leads.”

Earhart asks that anyone who has reconnected with a loved one since calling the hotline should let the TBI know.

Video:
@KnoxvilleFire and Newport Rescue Squad conducting further inspection and documentation. This is on Cedar Lane West in
#Gatlinburg.
pic.twitter.com/gL9b2cnKxd— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagiTDOT)
December 1, 2016

The search continues on the ground, but crews say there are some areas they’re just now getting to. Gatlinburg fire chief Greg Miller says that enough time has passed that life-saving efforts are shifting.

“We have to come to the realization that the potential is great that it could be more of a recovery than a rescue,” he said. “But we’ll always hold out hope.”

Miller says the some of the structure fires were so intense, they could have burned human remains. If only bones are left, Miller says identification will be an even longer process.

And right now, the medical examiner still hasn’t identified any of the seven known victims.