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| Country music star Dolly Parton 'heartbroken' over deadly wildfires | Country music star Dolly Parton 'heartbroken' over deadly wildfires |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Country music star Dolly Parton says she is "heartbroken" over wildfires that have killed three people and injured 14 near her Tennessee resort. | |
| Mandatory evacuations are under way around Gatlinburg as wildfires have set hundreds of buildings ablaze. | Mandatory evacuations are under way around Gatlinburg as wildfires have set hundreds of buildings ablaze. |
| The fires threaten Dollywood, a theme park owned by Parton, and an aquarium housing thousands of animals. | |
| Several southern states are battling wind-fuelled wildfires after months of drought. | Several southern states are battling wind-fuelled wildfires after months of drought. |
| "I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I am heartbroken," Parton said. | "I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I am heartbroken," Parton said. |
| "I am praying for all the families affected by the fire and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe." | "I am praying for all the families affected by the fire and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe." |
| Dollywood, in the mountain town of Pigeon Forge, has evacuated guests from some of its properties, with several cabins and vacation structures being damaged, a spokesman said. | Dollywood, in the mountain town of Pigeon Forge, has evacuated guests from some of its properties, with several cabins and vacation structures being damaged, a spokesman said. |
| Parton, 70, had appeared in a public service advertisement on Sunday, asking people nearby to take steps to prevent spreading the fire. | Parton, 70, had appeared in a public service advertisement on Sunday, asking people nearby to take steps to prevent spreading the fire. |
| Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that three people had died, but he did not provide further details. | Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that three people had died, but he did not provide further details. |
| The conflagration in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains was being spread by winds gusting over 80mph (128km/h). | The conflagration in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains was being spread by winds gusting over 80mph (128km/h). |
| National Guard troops began arriving early on Tuesday morning to help battle the blaze. | National Guard troops began arriving early on Tuesday morning to help battle the blaze. |
| What is a firenado? | What is a firenado? |
| Wildfires- Why they start and how they can be stopped | Wildfires- Why they start and how they can be stopped |
| Thousands of people have been evacuated so far. | Thousands of people have been evacuated so far. |
| The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sent out warnings on social media to avoid the area. | The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sent out warnings on social media to avoid the area. |
| There is concern for more than 10,000 animals at an aquarium in Gatlinburg after all employees were evacuated. | There is concern for more than 10,000 animals at an aquarium in Gatlinburg after all employees were evacuated. |
| The building is still standing, but "workers are anxious to return to check on the animals", the general manager of Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Ryan DeSears, told local media. | The building is still standing, but "workers are anxious to return to check on the animals", the general manager of Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Ryan DeSears, told local media. |
| Facebook has activated its safety check feature. | Facebook has activated its safety check feature. |
| A new storm system is predicted to bring high winds, which authorities say could topple dead trees and pose a threat to firefighters. | A new storm system is predicted to bring high winds, which authorities say could topple dead trees and pose a threat to firefighters. |
| But the rainfall due to come with the weather system is not expected to end the drought. | But the rainfall due to come with the weather system is not expected to end the drought. |
| "It's way too early to say, 'yes, this drought is over,'" said Mark Svoboda, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska. | "It's way too early to say, 'yes, this drought is over,'" said Mark Svoboda, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center in Nebraska. |
| "Does it put a dent in it? Yes, but we have a long ways to go." | "Does it put a dent in it? Yes, but we have a long ways to go." |
| Neighbouring Georgia as well as North and South Carolina are battling wildfires, too. | Neighbouring Georgia as well as North and South Carolina are battling wildfires, too. |