Judge to decide if $14 million suit filed by Gatlinburg wildfire survivors goes forward

A federal judge in Knoxville heard arguments from both sides Monday in a lawsuit filed by survivors of the November 2016 fires in Gatlinburg that killed 14 people and leveled more than 2,000 homes. Attorneys representing the National Park Service have asked the court to dismiss the $14 million suit that blames the federal agency for failing to give adequate warnings about the Chimney Tops blaze that caused over a billion dollars in damages. The next step will be an order from the judge who will determine if the suit goes forward.

(PHOTO: M. Nagi / TDOT / 2016)