• Fire destroys 30 cabins near Great Smokies

    At least 35 cabins and 145 acres in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, have been scorched by a blaze that started over the weekend. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.

    PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — A wildfire burning in a resort area outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee has destroyed more than 30 large rental cabins.

    Ben Bryson, a fire resources coordinator with the Tennessee Division of Forestry, says the 145-acre fire was first reported about 5 p.m. ET Sunday in Sevier County, in eastern Tennessee.

    Bryson says two National Guard helicopters are being dispatched Monday to help fight the fire, which has been contained and isn't expected to spread.

    Bryson says some of the cabins were occupied and about 150 to 200 people were evacuated, but no injuries were reported.

    The area is home to country star Dolly Parton's Dollywood theme park, which Bryson says is not being threatened by the fire.

    The Associated Press

    Curt Habraken / The Mountain Press

    Firefighters set a boundary as cabins burn in Sevier County, Tenn., on Sunday.

    This story was originally published on Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:59 AM EDT