SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. -- A fire atop English Mountain that started Tuesday morning and destroyed four dozen condominiums is now being fought with a helicopter ferrying loads of water from local ponds and lakes.
As of Wednesday, 48 condos reduced to ashes in Sevier County continued to smolder due to hot embers under the debris.
Firefighters also remained on scene in the event that anticipated winds this afternoon kick up remaining embers and they turn into flames.
Authorities are keeping an eye on the situation, said Bob Stahlke, public information officer for the Sevierville Police Department.
"We feel very good about the situation as it is now," Stahlke said.
The fire does appear to be spreading northeast into Cocke County, Stahlke said, but no homes are in imminent danger.
Residents of the other six condo buildings that were not damaged have not yet been cleared to return home, but are being allowed to return to their homes with an escort to grab a few necessities.
Meanwhile, the center point of the fire is located at the top of the mountain in an inaccessible woodland area.
The Tennessee Department of Forestry remains on scene continuing the use of using bulldozer to cut fire lines to contain the fire from spreading any further.
Copyright 2012 - The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
