A National Weather Service report issued on Sunday predicted wind gusts up to 40 mph the following day.

On November 28, park employees observed that the fire had spread to the Chimneys Picnic Area north of and outside the containment boundary.

Throughout the afternoon and evening of November 28, numerous fires developed in the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge areas as a result of wind-driven sparks or downed power lines.

[20] Two unnamed juveniles were initially charged with aggravated arson in connection to the fires; these were dropped due to lack of evidence and an agreement between the State of Tennessee and the Department of the Interior which excluded state jurisdiction from prosecuting criminal activities that occur entirely within the park.

[23] President Barack Obama ordered federal disaster relief funds to go to the hard hit area of Sevier County in response to the vast devastation.

President-elect Donald Trump tweeted: "My thoughts and prayers are with the great people of Tennessee during these terrible wildfires.

"[34] Stefanie Benjamin, Associate Professor of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of Tennessee noted that despite negative press from the fire, the region "was able to recuperate fairly quickly.

West found that the "My People Fund," in tandem with traditional disaster response, gave families the ability to make decisions that were most beneficial to them, and concluded that unconditional cash support may be more beneficial for disaster relief than conditional financial support.

[37] The report cited the impact of the monthly financial disbursements from the "My People Fund" on residents' emergency savings: "Following the monthly disbursements of unconditional cash assistance, participants were able to return to baseline financial stability reported prior to the wildfire, and improve their ability to set aside savings for hypothetical future emergencies.