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UT Lends Support in Sevier County 2022 Wildfire Response

With fires in the Wears Valley and Seymour areas now fully contained, the surrounding communities begin the hard work of clean up, recovery and return to a new normal.

Local government and agencies once again rose to the challenge posed by wildfires in the Great Smoky Mountains, which began at the end of March.

Public safety professionals from across East Tennessee, including Brian Gard and Brad Walker from the UT Office of Emergency Management, responded to help the residents of Sevier County.

As the emergency continued for multiple days, Gard and Walker answered a request to help augment staffing in the Sevier County Emergency Operations Center on March 31 and April 1.

“We filled in where needed and did our best to support the people doing the heavy lifting, which allowed them to get some much needed rest,” Gard said. “As sad as the losses are, it is an honor to play any part and get to witness a community come together in a time of great need.”

The greater community can continue to support Sevier County’s recovery efforts by donating via https://www.mountaintough.org.