Gatlinburg, Tenn., is trying to recover after a devastating wildfire swept through the town at the base of the Smoky Mountains. Officials have charged two teenagers with arson, for allegedly starting the fire that destroyed or damaged at least 2,400 buildings and killed 14 people.
Many worry it will also hinder one of the largest economic drivers in the county: tourism.
At a press conference less than 48 hours after the evacuation, Gatlinburg Mayor Mike Werner stepped up to the podium. Werner’s home had burned down in the fire, as did his business, vacation rentals he had managed for 30 years.
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