Dolly Parton Is 'Heartbroken' Over the Tennessee Fires
Guest cabins at the singer's theme park, Dollywood, were evacuated.
— -- Dolly Parton has spoken out about the wildfires that have engulfed parts of east Tennessee.
The singer has a theme park, Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, though she is currently in Los Angeles, where she is filming "The Voice."
However, she has been paying close attention to what's going on back home, she noted Tuesday.
"I have been watching the terrible fires in the Great Smoky Mountains and I am heartbroken," she said in a statement obtained by ABC News. "I am praying for all the families affected by the fire and the firefighters who are working so hard to keep everyone safe. It is a blessing that my Dollywood theme park, the DreamMore Resort and so many businesses in Pigeon Forge have been spared."
Dean Fleener, a spokesperson with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, told ABC News that the fires were "right on the doorstep" of Dollywood, but crews were able to stop the flames from damaging the park overnight. However, guest cabins were evacuated, a representative for the resort told ABC News Monday.
On Tuesday morning, Gatlinburg Fire Chief Greg Miller said that more than 2,000 people are in shelters as a result of the blazes, and more than 100 structures have been destroyed. At the time, there were 14 active fires, as some burned buildings were still aflame.
“Our focus today is to get access to the affected area, go door-to-door and check on people," he said. “Whatever we deal with today is not going to be anything like we dealt with last night. The worst is definitely over."