3 Dead in Tennessee Wildfire, Officials Say

A massive wildfire in eastern Tennessee has killed three people, burned hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate, according to officials.

The wildfire, which Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said was the state's biggest fire in 100 years, was exacerbated by what authorities described today as hurricane-force winds of up to 87 mph.

The blaze killed three people in Gatlinburg, where many city officials, including Mayor Mike Werner, lost their homes, Haslam said at a news conference this afternoon.

Werner said at the news conference that it was a "devastating time" for the city" but that its people were "strong and resilient."

He said there are still areas authorities are trying to reach and they are hoping there will not be more fatalities.

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