The East TN and southeastern region of the US was suffering from a severe and rare drought. This small wildfire broke out just outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On Nov. 28, high winds swept the then-500-acre fire into Gatlinburg and Sevier County, where flames caused were blamed for 14 deaths, 191 injuries, the damage or destruction of more than 2,400 structures and, at last tally, about $842 million in damages. The fire covered 17,000 acres in and out of the National Park.