Harrowing image of melted car shows devastation of Tennessee wildfires
The town of Gatlinburg, Tenn., is just coming to grips with the wildfires that left at least 10 people dead.
Officials said about 75 people were injured, and recovery efforts are currently focusing on searching for more survivors, the Associated Press reported. A full day of rain helped settle the blaze by Thursday morning, revealing a heartbreaking path of debris and destruction.
The sheer heat of the flames was made all the more real by photographs capturing the aftermath. One image shows the empty shell of a car, its tires gone, aluminum hubcaps melted and metal dripping away from the vehicle.
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Other images were just as grim, revealing just how powerful the tragic fire was.
On Monday, more than 14,000 people evacuated their homes, fleeing from the rapidly growing wildfire that tore apart the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and threatened nearby Dollywood.
Dolly Parton, a proud native of the area, vowed to give back to families whose homes have been destroyed by donating $1,000 a month to victims for six months.
Amidst the piles of debris, the eastern Tennessee town has seen small rays of hope, sometimes with a religious theme.
In the meantime, parts of Gatlinburg will remain closed for about another week as the town continues to recover.
Marissa is a real-time news intern at the LA office. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. She's a free spirit.
