Pigeon Forge brush fire 100 percent contained

The brush fire in Pigeon Forge is 100 percent contained as of Wednesday, officials said, and they believe the fire was started by a lightning strike.

A release from officials said crews from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division or Forestry and members of the National Park Service were still on scene at the fire.

The department said crews "took advantage of good weather" to continue working and mop up hot spots.

"There is still heat in the ground so unless rain occurs, the next concern is reburn after leaf drop expected over the next several weeks."

Crews will continue to monitor the fire for heat through leafe fire.

The fire at one point had grown to 25 acres, but was down to 7 acres.

More than 50 fire personnel were on the scene at one point represented by agencies including the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry, Sevier County EMA, Pigeon Forge Fire Department, National Park Service, and other various agencies.

Officials said the "terrible terrain" was making operations difficult as crews work to extinguish it.

Fire crews resumed firefighting operations around 7:30 a.m. Monday on a slow-moving, smoldering brush fire in the Laurel Lick region of Pigeon Forge.

Chief Watson of the Pigeon Forge Fire Department said crews were continuing helicopter water drops, and crews were digging down into mineral soil because roots are interfering with fire lines.

Sevier Co. Fire Administrator David Puckett demonstrated challenges crews faced on Facebook:

Puckett said crews were dealing with "steep grades" and the soil. There were layers of "leaf matter and roots."

When digging fire lines, Puckett says, "What these guys are having to do is go down quite a bit more to try to get down through mineral soil."

As of Oct 8 at 8 p.m., there have been no reports of structural damage to any buildings. The fire is at least a mile away from any structures in the area, officials said.

For any updates on the fire and the fire teams' progression, the public is being asked to follow this step: text SevierAlerts to 99411 to register for Sevier County Code Red Emergency Notification System or download the Code Red Mobile Alert from the App Store.