Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County Air Quality Management officials have banned open burning until further notice.
Rural Metro Fire Department taking to social media Thursday morning with the announcement say the ban comes as Knox County continues to experience dry and windy conditions.
Those conditions have sparked a string of wildfires not just in Knox County but across East Tennessee. The latest Knox County fire happened Tuesday on Sharp’s Ridge, spreading several acres before crews were able to get it under control.
With the ban in place, no open burning is allowed in Knox County. Rural Metro says the county will issue an announcement when the ban is lifted.
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(UPDATE 3/28/25 noon WOKI) If you are in the Rocky Top area you may see U.S. Army helicopters today (Friday) as crews get extra help fighting a wildfire that’s 150 acres large and only 50% contained.
Anderson County Officials say the military and the Tennessee Highway Patrol would be helping in the response to the Beech Grove area.
The two choppers are flying in, just as a preventative measure to drop water on inaccessible areas, according to Tennessee Division of Forestry and are expected to be on scene all day.
No injuries or damage to structures has been reported.
UPDATE (3/28/25) A brush fire in Anderson County continues to grow in size and is more contained.
Anderson County EMA says the fire was reported Wednesday on Beech Grove Lane in Rocky Top.
The fire is estimated to be 150 acres in size and is 50% contained with all fire lines connected to each other to help containment.
Officials say no structures have been affected by the wildfire and no evacuations are in place. In addition to the numerous fire departments that responded, the Anderson County Emergency Management Agency and the Division of Forestry are also on the scene.
Original Story: Several fire crews are fighting a large brush fire in Anderson County.
Anderson County EMA says the fire was reported yesterday (Wednesday) on Beech Grove Lane in Rocky Top.
The fire is estimated to be 80 acres in size and is 25% contained.
No evacuations are in place and no structures are threatened. In addition to the numerous fire departments that responded, the Anderson County Emergency Management Agency and the Division of Forestry are also on the scene.
Today (Thursday) marks six months since Hurricane Helene made landfall, moving through East Tennessee and causing unprecedented destruction and taking several lives.
According to the National Hurricane Center, 18 Tennesseans lost their lives at the hands of the storm. Helene, which swiftly became a tropical storm as it made landfall, dumped billions of gallons of rain across not only East Tennessee, but western North Carolina. All that water, whether directly from the storm or from runoff in the Great Smoky Mountains, caused record-breaking crests on waterways like the Pigeon River.
The flooding took not only lives, but infrastructure, businesses and homes with it.
Tennessee is still working to recover, overcoming one of the worst natural disasters in Tennessee’s history.
Just this month, rafting businesses in Hartford started taking guests on the Pigeon River again, bring to life the town’s largest economic driver.
Last week, the National Hurricane Center released its final report on the storm, tallying 249 lives lost at the hands of Helene.
Part of I-40 between Tennessee and North Carolina has reopened to traffic, with one lane in each direction at 35 miles per hour through the narrow lanes.
Hartford, a community in Cocke County known for rafting on the Pigeon River, was one of the hardest hit areas after the floods from Helene.
Ever since the flood, the clock has been ticking for companies to rebuild in time for this year’s season. Crews have faced endless setbacks from crumbling roads and even more unexpected flooding.
Two businesses have been able to reopen so far for this year’s season and several others are expected to open in the coming months.
Hartford Road and Trail Hallow Road are partially crumbled away, still looking the same way they did when Helene initially swept through which is affecting some outfitters.
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis told WVLT News the county’s highway department is actively working on road projects. He says they need to get design plans approved and secure funding through the state and federal level and says some projects are long-term. He says he hopes all roads will be ready for the 2026 rafting season.
The City of Erwin in Unicoi County is showing some real progress as it works to rebuild after Helene’s devastating floods.
It’s been six months since storms started moving through the area, paving the way for Helene to dump billions of gallons of water on East Tennessee and western North Carolina.
Helene’s waters caused the Nolichucky River to take away people’s livelihoods and even lives.
Riverview Baptist Church suffered some serious damage at the hands of Helene, but the church plans to open its doors for Easter service.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has been working hard repairing and rebuilding roads across East Tennessee after massive flooding caused by Hurricane Helene destroyed numerous roads, bridges and interstates.
Crews have been working on crunch-time for the last six months to get these roads and interstates back open .
Mark Nagi with TDOT tells our news partner WVLT that of the 49 sections of roadway that were closed, which includes bridges that were destroyed, 44 roadways are now reopened.
TDOT recently celebrated I-40’s reopening, at least in part. The state has cleared one lane of the interstate on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains. North Carolina crews have seen similar success, opening one lane of the interstate across the state line.
TDOT has been getting some help from the state and federal governments to speed up the process as much as possible.
In the six months since Helene swept through East Tennessee, Mountain Ways has been giving out money to those most affected.
Lori Moore is the executive director at Mountain Ways. She says the organization had donated more than $2.5 million to more than 500 families who lost their homes to Helene in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Individuals aren’t the only ones getting a hand from Mountain Ways, however. Tuesday, the group awarded grants to six volunteer fire departments in Cocke County that had lost gear in Helene’s floods. Hope House, another group which has been giving tiny homes to those in need, also received some help from Mountain Ways.
Today (Thursday) marks six months since Hurricane Helene made landfall, moving through East Tennessee and causing unprecedented destruction and taking several lives.
According to the National Hurricane Center, 18 Tennesseans lost their lives at the hands of the storm. Helene, which swiftly became a tropical storm as it made landfall, dumped billions of gallons of rain across not only East Tennessee, but western North Carolina. All that water, whether directly from the storm or from runoff in the Great Smoky Mountains, caused record-breaking crests on waterways like the Pigeon River.
The flooding took not only lives, but infrastructure, businesses and homes with it.
Tennessee is still working to recover, overcoming one of the worst natural disasters in Tennessee’s history.
Just this month, rafting businesses in Hartford started taking guests on the Pigeon River again, bring to life the town’s largest economic driver.
Last week, the National Hurricane Center released its final report on the storm, tallying 249 lives lost at the hands of Helene.
Part of I-40 between Tennessee and North Carolina has reopened to traffic, with one lane in each direction at 35 miles per hour through the narrow lanes.
Hartford, a community in Cocke County known for rafting on the Pigeon River, was one of the hardest hit areas after the floods from Helene.
Ever since the flood, the clock has been ticking for companies to rebuild in time for this year’s season. Crews have faced endless setbacks from crumbling roads and even more unexpected flooding.
Two businesses have been able to reopen so far for this year’s season and several others are expected to open in the coming months.
Hartford Road and Trail Hallow Road are partially crumbled away, still looking the same way they did when Helene initially swept through which is affecting some outfitters.
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis told WVLT News the county’s highway department is actively working on road projects. He says they need to get design plans approved and secure funding through the state and federal level and says some projects are long-term. He says he hopes all roads will be ready for the 2026 rafting season.
The City of Erwin in Unicoi County is showing some real progress as it works to rebuild after Helene’s devastating floods.
It’s been six months since storms started moving through the area, paving the way for Helene to dump billions of gallons of water on East Tennessee and western North Carolina.
Helene’s waters caused the Nolichucky River to take away people’s livelihoods and even lives.
Riverview Baptist Church suffered some serious damage at the hands of Helene, but the church plans to open its doors for Easter service.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation has been working hard repairing and rebuilding roads across East Tennessee after massive flooding caused by Hurricane Helene destroyed numerous roads, bridges and interstates.
Crews have been working on crunch-time for the last six months to get these roads and interstates back open .
Mark Nagi with TDOT tells our news partner WVLT that of the 49 sections of roadway that were closed, which includes bridges that were destroyed, 44 roadways are now reopened.
TDOT recently celebrated I-40’s reopening, at least in part. The state has cleared one lane of the interstate on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains. North Carolina crews have seen similar success, opening one lane of the interstate across the state line.
TDOT has been getting some help from the state and federal governments to speed up the process as much as possible.
In the six months since Helene swept through East Tennessee, Mountain Ways has been giving out money to those most affected.
Lori Moore is the executive director at Mountain Ways. She says the organization had donated more than $2.5 million to more than 500 families who lost their homes to Helene in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Individuals aren’t the only ones getting a hand from Mountain Ways, however. Tuesday, the group awarded grants to six volunteer fire departments in Cocke County that had lost gear in Helene’s floods. Hope House, another group which has been giving tiny homes to those in need, also received some help from Mountain Ways.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Two teens are arrested for allegedly throwing rocks off an overpass and onto I-640 in Knoxville early Wednesday morning.
Knoxville Police Department officials say officers responded around 2:30 a.m. to I-640 West at Bruhin Road after receiving several calls of objects being dropped from an overpass onto the interstate and striking several tractor-trailers.
KPD says TDOT cameras spotted two boys, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, walking on the railroad overpass over I-640. After being detained on Central Avenue Pike, they both admitted to dropping rocks off the overpass; they were charged with reckless endangerment and taken to the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center.
KPD says no injuries were reported in either incident.
KPD says Property Crime detectives are working to determine if the teens arrested were also involved in other vandalism that was reported in the same area on Tuesday wherein a tractor-trailer driver reported that an object hit his truck and shattered the windshield around 4:30 a.m.
After being detained on Central Avenue Pike, Knoxville police said they both admitted to dropping rocks off the overpass. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) A new Malayan tiger from Dickerson Park Zoo is expected to play a key role in Zoo Knoxville’s conservation efforts.
Zoo officials say the tiger, Jango, is “considered one of the most genetically viable” Malayan tigers in the world, making him a perfect fit for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. That plan is a collaboration of zoos across the country working to breed more threatened species.
“We’re excited to welcome Jango to Zoo Knoxville and to play a role in the survival of his species,” said Bill Street, Zoo Knoxville’s president and CEO. “Pairing Jango with our female Batari is an important step in ensuring the future of Malayan tigers, and we hope their introduction will contribute to the preservation of this critically endangered species.”
According to Zoo Knoxville, there are less than 200 Malayan tigers in the world.
Guests can see Jango now at the zoo’s tiger exhibit.
The tiger, Jango, is “considered one of the most genetically viable” Malayan tigers in the world, Zoo Knoxville said, making him a perfect fit for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. (Courtesy: Amy Smotherman Burgess | Zoo Knoxville)
Pigeon Forge, TN (WOKI) The City of Pigeon Forge says its city manager of 44 years will soon be retiring.
Earlene Teaster became Tennessee’s first female city manager when she was named to the position in 1980. She was first hired to be the city clerk in 1961.
Pigeon Forge Mayor David Wear says Teaster’s impact on the city is immeasurable. He says they are forever grateful for her unwavering leadership and steadfast support.
Teaster, who is currently Tennessee’s longest-serving city manager, is set to retire on June 30.
Tennessee’s longest-serving city manager is set to retire on June 30. (Courtesy: City of PigeonForge)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Swift action by Knoxville Fire Department crews saves a small dog Wednesday afternoon from a burning home.
Crews were dispatched just after noon to a possible house fire at 4006 Ivy Avenue; a neighbor advised that they did not believe anyone was home, but did believe there was a small dog inside the residence.
KFD says upon arrival they found heavy smoke and fire coming from the front of the home.
Crews were able to make a rapid entry into the house to begin fighting the fire, and while searching the home located a small dog, which was removed unharmed. The animal has been sent to a local veterinarian’s office for evaluation.
Fire officials say the home was occupied by one adult female who was away at the time of the fire and that the home has suffered heavy smoke and fire damage and is likely a total loss.
KFD adds the home had working smoke alarms, which were activated upon crews’ arrival.
No Injuries were reported.
The Knoxville Fire Department’s Fire Investigations Unit is on scene, working to determine a cause.
Knoxville Fire Department crews respond to house fire Wednesday at 4006 Ivy Avenue. (Courtesy: KFD)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football returned to the practice field with a two-hour shoulder pads practice following its week-long spring break on Tuesday at Haslam Field. Head coach Josh Heupel met with the media following the fifth spring practice.
Wide Receiver Leadership Emerging The Volunteers must replace wide receivers Bru McCoy, Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Squirrel White. Returning Vols Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley and redshirt junior Chris Brazzell II are emerging as leaders in their second year in the offensive system. Brazell led that trio and ranked third on the team with 29 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns last season.
“I think part of it is a credit to them and the work that they have put into it,” Heupel said. “But in year two, it’s true for every player; in what we do offensively, the understanding of what we’re doing, the decisions that they have to make and being on the same page. Fundamentals and techniques continue to improve, but they have a great understanding having played in it—what it looks like, what it feels like, and how they have to operate within it.”
Two-Way Player Boo Carter Boo Carter is coming off an SEC All-Freshman Team season in his first year on Rocky Top. Carter proved to be one of the most dynamic players in the SEC, leading the league in punt return average at 16.5 yards per return. He also settled into a secondary starting role at STAR. The fall could see the Chattanooga native take on slot receiver duties, a role he is experimenting with this spring.
“Boo’s done a really good job on the defensive side of the ball,” Heupel said. “You saw him as a punt returner – electric with the ball in his hands. We’ve experimented with him on the offensive side of the football as well, and he’s handled it really well up until this point.”
Carter was a two-way star and the No. 1 player in the state coming out of Bradley Central High School. He finished his 2023 senior season with 1,795 all-purpose yards and 27 total touchdowns.
Ethan Davis Forming Elite Returning Tight End Duo Tennessee will boast one of the top tight end duos in the SEC with the return of Miles Kitselman and Ethan Davis. The athletic Davis earned SEC All-Freshman laurels last year after hauling in 13 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. He has taken advantage of the Vols’ offseason program.
“Ethan has done an elite job just growing through our winter,” Heupel said. “He’s done a great job with his body. He’s just continued to mature as a man, just how he approaches every single day. He has been really consistent. We have great understanding of what we’re getting from him every single day, and that’s a credit to him just continuing to grow as a man.”
Coaches Clinic Tennessee will host its annual Coaches Clinic this Friday and Saturday with former NFL coach Jon Gruden as the keynote speaker. Gruden got his coaching start as a graduate assistant under Johnny Majors at UT from 1986-87. Full clinic details, including registration are available here. The clinic is open to high school and middle school coaches.
“Coaches from our footprint have an opportunity to come in and be able to talk ball with us,” Heupel said. “Obviously, Coach Gruden coming in and headlining the event, it will be a lot of fun to have a lot of people here on campus.”
Everything School Heupel opened his Tuesday press conference with a shoutout to men’s and women’s basketball head coaches Rick Barnes and Kim Caldwell. The Vols and Lady Vols have both advanced to this weekend’s NCAA Sweet 16 in Indianapolis and Birmingham, respectively. Heupel’s football program is coming off its first College Football Playoff berth, and Tennessee was the only school this athletic year to reach the CFP and the NCAA men’s and women’s Sweet 16.
“I’ll start by just saying what an awesome weekend for our athletic department, our university,” Heupel said. “Congratulations to Coach Barnes and Coach Caldwell. It was a lot of fun to just watch those teams go compete and have a ton of success. I look forward to watching them here this weekend as well.”
Tennessee will practice two more times this week, doing so Thursday and Saturday.
Tickets for the Orange & White Game presented by Cherokee Resorts & Entertainment are on sale now at AllVols.com. Start time is 2 p.m. ET on April 12 in Neyland Stadium.
