Firefighters' logs describe frantic struggle against Gatlinburg wildfire
CLOSE Video and audio during the night of November 28, 2016. Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel Buy Photo Fire erupts on both side of Highway 441 near The Spur on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016. (Photo: Jessica Tezak, Special to the News Sentinel) Buy Photo The rain never came in time. Records released this week show authorities battling the deadly Sevier County wildfires looked to an expected downpour that came too late for salvation as crews struggled in a desperate tug-of-war with skyscraper-sized flames the night of Nov. 28, 2016. As the blaze approached the city limits, authorities knew the rain wouldn't arrive for another 12 hours. "Rain may not be in Gatlinburg until 4 a.m.," reads a 5:30 p.m. entry on notes kept by staff inside the incident command center . “Rain may not be in Gatlinburg until 4 a.m.” a 5:30 p.m. entry on notes kept by staff inside the incident command center Authorities didn't order a citywide evacuation for another three hours -- and had no effective wa...