Elmore Co. Native Dies in Tennessee Wildfires

Family of Alice Hagler confirmed to Alabama News Network that the 70-year-old Eclectic native died when the cabin she was living in with her son caught fire.  Hagler and her son James Wood had moved to Gatlinburg only five months ago.

Wood says his mom called him saying the house was on fire.  He then told her to get out of the house, but he says the line disconnected soon after.  He immediately rushed towards the mountain they lived on but says he was unable to go up it because of the fire.

“I had to turn back around, the last person that actually got off the mountain was coming down,” he explained, “and the gentlemen talked to me and basically told me he wasn’t leaving without me.”

After days of searching for any signs that his mother got out of the fire, Wood says officials informed him Wednesday night that his mother’s body had been recovered inside the cabin.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family.  If you would like to donate click here.