A wildfire broke out in the Wears Valley community of Sevier County, Tennessee, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Despite rain moving across East Tennessee overnight, officials reported the fire, driven by high winds, had burned 3,700 acres, approximately 100 structures, and several fire-fighting vehicles. The fire, officially designated as the Hatcher Mountain-Indigo Lane Fire, is only 5% contained. In the area there are many cabin homes in heavily wooded settings.

CAM Cabin Crafts, the store operated by the Coalition for Appalachian Ministry, is on Wears Valley Road near Townsend, Tennessee. On Wednesday, CAM reported the southern or Townsend end of Wears Valley Road was closed to all but emergency traffic. Approximately 11,000 homes were evacuated as the fire continued to spread. More than 200 fire personnel are working in the area to combat the wildfire.

Evacuations were ordered earlier for Hatcher Mountain, Shagbark, Little Valley Road, Black Bear Resort off of Lost Branch Road and anyone one-mile radius of Indigo Lane. The area along Wears Valley Road, including areas from Walden’s Creek Road to Wear Farm City Park and about a mile from the Pigeon Forge Parkway, were later added.