Federal Court Dismisses 2016 Gatlinburg Wildfire Lawsuits Against National Park Service

Dismissal follows years of court battles over federal response to deadly blaze.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:52pm

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A federal court has dismissed all lawsuits filed against the Great Smoky Mountains National Park over the federal response to the devastating 2016 Gatlinburg Wildfires. The dismissal, issued on March 31, concludes years of legal battles seeking damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act for personal injuries and property damage caused by the fires, which killed 14 people and destroyed over 2,400 buildings.

Why it matters

The Gatlinburg Wildfires were one of the worst natural disasters in Tennessee's history, sparking intense scrutiny over the National Park Service's handling of fire warnings and evacuation efforts. The dismissal of these lawsuits ends a long legal saga and affirms the federal government's protected discretion in its emergency response decisions.

The details

The court determined that the National Park Service's decisions about fire warnings involved protected discretion, and therefore the federal government cannot be sued for damages. The lawsuits were filed by insurance companies that covered burned properties, as well as family members of individuals killed in the fires. After being combined and split over the years, the dismissal now covers all suits filed against the NPS.

  • The Gatlinburg Wildfires began in late 2016.
  • Lawsuits were filed in the years following the disaster.
  • A federal appellate panel reversed a lower court's dismissal of claims against the National Park Service in 2023.
  • The final dismissal of all lawsuits was issued on March 31, 2026.

The players

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A national park located in Tennessee and North Carolina, managed by the National Park Service.

National Park Service

The federal agency responsible for managing and protecting the United States' national parks and monuments.

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The takeaway

The dismissal of these lawsuits against the National Park Service brings an end to years of legal battles over the federal response to the devastating 2016 Gatlinburg Wildfires. While the tragedy highlighted concerns about emergency preparedness, the court's ruling affirms the government's protected discretion in its handling of such natural disasters.