VIDEO: Fire crews were back in the woods Wednesday in an attempt to get a handle on a wildfire burning in Cocke County.
A command post was set up at the Tennessee Welcome Center on Interstate 40 in Hartford. At the welcome center, drivers can see an information board showing the latest updates about the Mill Creek Fire.
Officials said the air quality along the interstate was better Wednesday, but smoke could still be seen rising from the interior of the Cherokee National Forest.
Fire crews say they currently have about 50 percent containment of the nearly 600-acre fire. Officials said crews did a back burn of nearly 200 acres on Tuesday and believe that helped a lot. “We had no smoke issues with the interstate, which was our big concern of course, and that all went great, so we’re trying to wrap it up, get it secured may still see some smoke in the interior as the dice goes on. Even if we get a little bit of rain and the next day or two,” said Leslie Morgan, District Ranger, Cherokee National Forest.