MORE SCENES FROM THE GATLINBURG AREA

A Weakley Country Disaster Relief team member helps a National Guardsman load supplies for distribution. Ton of supplies are being delivered then divided for delivery to areas around Gatlinburg. With so many houses destroyed, the greatest need currently is financial and money contributed through Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is used to supply specific needs individuals have in their recovery effort.

A member of the Weakley Country Disaster Relief team helps a National Guardsman load supplies for distribution. Ton of supplies are being delivered then divided for delivery to areas around Gatlinburg. With so many houses destroyed, the greatest need currently is financial and money contributed through Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief is used to supply specific needs individuals have in their recovery effort.

Countless homes in the area around Banner Baptist Church were completely destroyed, reduced to ash and a chimney. More than 17,000 acres were destroyed by fire and to date approximately 2,000 buildings, most of them homes.

Countless homes in the area around Banner Baptist Church were completely destroyed, reduced to ash and a chimney. More than 17,000 acres were destroyed by fire and to date approximately 2,000 buildings, most of them homes.

Countless homes in the area around Banner Baptist Church were completely destroyed, reduced to ash and a chimney. More than 17,000 acres were destroyed by fire and to date approximately 2,000 buildings, most of them homes.

Pete Lamon, pastor of Banner Baptist Church, Gatlinburg, stands near the church’s destroyed Family Life Center. The fire swept through the area around the church, destroying this building and several houses directly across the street. However, the sanctuary was spared and received only minor smoke damage.

Pete Lamon, pastor of Banner Baptist Church, Gatlinburg, tells former TBC President Roc Collins (center) and current TBC President Steve Freeman, how the Gatlinburg fires swept through the area. Lamon is a former 15-year volunteer fireman with the Gatlinburg Fire Department and said he’d never seen a fire as violent as this one, saying at one point it was “shooting across the road like a blow torch.” Seven members of the 35-member church lost their homes.

Former TBC President Roc Collins (left) and current TBC President Steve Freeman visit with Kim McCroskey, pastor of Roaring Fork Baptist Church. Roaring Fork was a complete loss with both the sanctuary and Family Life Center destroyed in the fire. Four church members lost their homes.

TBC President Steve Freeman surveys the damage to property immediately behind Roaring Fork Baptist Church. Several homes near the church were destroyed, four of which belonged to church members. Freeman has called on Tennessee Baptists to give $20 for tragedy to help in the disaster relief effort. Contributions can be made at TNDisasterRelief.org/contributions.