Rising from the ashes: the Chimney Tops 2 wildfires in memory and art

 

This book documents the illustrations that were commissioned by the University of Tennessee Libraries to accompany its oral history project about the Chimney Tops 2 wildfire of 2016. The fire resulted from the combination of drought conditions, high winds, and possibly arson, and caused 14 deaths, 200 injuries, the loss of or damage to 2,500 homes and buildings, and 17,000 acres burned. Four artists, Paige Braddock, Charlie Daniel, Marshall Ramsey, and Danny Wilson were asked to contribute art to the show, and the text of the book was written by Stephen Lyn Bales. This is a very touching and emotional account of how the fires affected many people.