Santa Clara, CA: Wildfires in eastern Tennessee have displaced more than 14,000 Tennessee residents, many of whom have lost everything. The fire advanced with frightening speed, and is estimated to have damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes and businesses.
According to the Washington Post, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) said the state is sending resources, including the National Guard, to help those left homeless by fire, which he called the worst in at least 100 years. There are reports of seven deaths associated with the fires which are still burning in and around Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
While the exact cause of the fire has yet to be established, officials indicate that is appears to be human caused. Although many wildfires are caused by natural occurrences such as lightning strikes, some fires can be caused by human error. In such cases, wildfire lawsuits can be filed so that victims of wildfire accidents can recover their losses.
In some cases, wildfires can be caused by problems with utility company equipment, such as power lines or overheated equipment. In other cases, controlled burns can quickly get out of control, threatening the property and safety of people who live nearby. Finally, human error, such as leaving a campfire burning or tossing a lit cigarette butt can cause massive fire devastation, as is the case in Tennessee.
