Page 19 - TNPW Jan-Feb2018 Vol35 No6
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was blowing the embers and woodchips cost, any way possible… using the truck Moulden, an Operations Technician
in your eyes, and you get knocked over or anything else.” with more than 42 years of experience at
because the wind was so strong,” said TDOT. “They trusted me and I trusted
TDOT Operations Supervisor Matt Hart. During the peak of TDOT’s assistance, them. We worked all week together.”
“You got out there and cut. You didn’t 53 employees used 29 dump trucks,
really have a choice. We had to get it two Gradalls, two front end loaders, 25 TDOT also brought up 4,000 gallons
open or else… I didn’t know if people chainsaws and four mechanic trucks as of diesel fuel and diesel exhaust fluid to
were in there trapped or what, so we just part of their duties. disperse to firefighters and other EMS
kept cutting our way through.” units via mobile fueling stations that
All in all TDOT wound up clearing we set up. TDOT cleared many city and
“There is fire all around us. It’s hot, it is over 2,800 cubic yards of brush and county streets and cleared State Routes
smoky. Everyone is panicking, freaking debris from area roadways. That includes 71, 73, 416, and 454 over and over again
out trying to find a way,” said TDOT state, federal, city and county routes. throughout the incident.
Operations Technician Bradley Eledge.
“You have to have the courage to do what “I loaded trees and I loaded them to TDOT crews also aided local
you do and that’s to move trees at any people that I didn’t know what county municipalities with clearing roads to
they were from, but they put their tailgates evacuate trapped persons on Wiley
down and backed right up,” said Carter Oakley Drive, Topside Road, Campbell
Lead and the Gatlinburg Bypass.
“I’m very proud to say that I work
for the Tennessee Department of
Transportation,” said Eledge. “When
we get the call, we go in head first and
worry about the outcome later. We are
here to protect and serve just like first
responders. If the road is closed, we open
it. We will be there until everything is
open and ready to go.”
Commemorating the one-year
anniversary of the historic fires with deep
appreciation for all Public Works support
from across the state. Smokies Strong!
View online at tnpublicworks.com 19
