Thu
May 31 2007
02:01 pm
Smoke
By: Brian A.

No, it wasn't my imagination:

Heavy smoke is blanketing many parts of West Knoxville Thursday afternoon.

Rural Metro authorities tell 10News that the smoke is coming from a "controlled burn" at a construction site off of Everett Road.

The "controlled burn" must be pretty big; the smoke is quite noticeable in the Gallaher View area.

UPDATED:

However, Knox County Health Department air quality inspectors sent out to the scene were unable to find a fire at that location.

The National Weather Service now confirms that the smoke's source is the wildfires burning in Georgia.

Weird. If this is the Georgia smoke, where did the first report come from?

Topics:
GDrinnen2's picture

Northshore

Submitted by GDrinnen2 on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:03pm.

I was just noticing it looks really, really hazy looking east out of my office. I'm at Northshore and Pellissippi.

WhitesCreek's picture

I'm in Kingston

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:06pm.

I 40 west exit 352...That would be an incredibly large controlled burn to reach out here. I suspect we'll find out there's other stuff going on. I've been involved in fighting way too many fires to think this is normal.

Brian A.'s picture

Fire

Submitted by Brian A. on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:09pm.

It's awful dry to be having a big brush fire, isn't it?

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

redmondkr's picture

I can't imagine scheduling a

Submitted by redmondkr on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:23pm.

I can't imagine scheduling a controlled burn today when there is a promise of a little rain within the next few days.

My scanner is rather quiet except the usual Life Star traffic.

The folks who comment at Channel 10 are in a tizzy. Aunt Pitty is about to swoon.

Come See Us at

The Hill Online

CathyMcCaughan's picture

Fiberglass?

Submitted by CathyMcCaughan on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:24pm.

It has a vaguely plastic smell.

Justin's picture

It has a vaguely plastic

Submitted by Justin on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:31pm.

It has a vaguely plastic smell.

Thats what I noticed...since when do controlled burns involve buring plastic?

Sam's picture

I hope it's not coming from

Submitted by Sam on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 2:40pm.

Oak Ridge.

smalc's picture

I thought open burning at

Submitted by smalc on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 3:24pm.

I thought open burning at construction sites was illegal at any time in Knox Co?

If it's Everett road, there's the Mulch Company site which seems to frequently be on fire. There is also that construction site on the south side of I-40, where they have been clearing for a few weeks. And also the site to the north of the interstate where they are cutting down the ridge. A couple of real eyesores, BTW.

Looking at the TDOT cameras, it seems worst in the Gallaher View/West Hills area, not further west. I am at Amherst and Middlebrook. On a clear day I can see Mt Leconte. Right now I can't see Bearden hill.

ultron's picture

"If it's Everett road,

Submitted by ultron on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 4:45pm.

"If it's Everett road, there's the Mulch Company site which seems to frequently be on fire."

That's a delightful sight out my office window, and yeah, it does seem to be on fire constantly.

D Mac's picture

From WATE: It is coming from

Submitted by D Mac on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 5:03pm.

From WATE:

It is coming from Georgia. The haze will be here for a while due to the wind patterns.

Factchecker's picture

It is coming from Georgia.

Submitted by Factchecker on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 7:27pm.

It is coming from Georgia. The haze will be here for a while due to the wind patterns.

I believe it. It's too widespread and smells like a campfire (i.e., wood) to me.

Mello's picture

look at the moon....

Submitted by Mello on Thu, 2007/05/31 - 9:55pm.

Well, if nothing else this smoke is sure giving great color to the moon.

Stormare Mackee's picture

The smoke is from Georgia

Submitted by Stormare Mackee on Fri, 2007/06/01 - 10:57am.

I made a trip to Atlanta yesterday, and smoke was visible in the air all along I-75 south of Cleveland, TN all the way to Atlanta. In places it looked like dense fog.

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