Team members will look at the facts during the time surrounding the fire and make recommendations as to any issues that could be addressed to reduce chances of a similar incident in the future. 

“Ultimately the purpose of the review is to identify lessons learned from this incident for use by any wildland firefighting agency,” said Bill Kaage, chief of the National Park Service’s Division of Fire and Aviation in Boise, Idaho, which is overseeing the review. 

The seven-member review team will include a variety of specialists from various agencies, including a Park Service fire management officer from outside the region, a municipal fire department representative from within the region and a Park Service management liaison. The team leader will be Joe Stutler, senior advisor for Deschutes County, Oregon. Stutler has nearly 50 years of experience in the complexities of fire management. 

The review will take about two weeks to complete, with a 45-day window afterward for the team to complete its report and submit it to Kaage for review before making it public. 

The Chimney Tops 2 fire transformed from a small incident to a tragedy when strong winds overnight Nov. 28 caused the flames to race downhill through tinder-dry forests and into the towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, eventually causing 14 deaths and $500 million in property damage. Two teenagers, whose identities have not been released, were arrested on arson charges.