Traffic flow in Gatlinburg was back to normal Wednesday afternoon after an abrupt halt triggered by a fire at a central local eatery, officials confirmed. The Parkway, a vital thoroughfare cutting through the heart of the town, was closed off after a kitchen fire erupted inside Dick's Last Resort, a popular downtown restaurant. According to the City of Gatlinburg, the blaze started at around 10:37 a.m. and forced a shutdown in both directions between Traffic Light No. 6 and the Gatlinburg Convention Center.

"The fire initiated in the kitchen and spread through the ventilation system which was attached to the deep fryer," Gatlinburg Fire Department Assistant Chief Wayne Brandenburg said in a statement obtained by WVLT. Quick response teams from both the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Fire Departments battled the flames, managing to subdue the fire that had spread to the roof. While the establishments were being safeguarded, the imposition on traffic caused temporary chaos, in the buzzing downtown district.

One firefighter was taken from the scene for a medical evaluation, the city representatives disclosed, highlighting the risks undertaken by first responders in such emergencies. It wasn't immediately clear what the condition of the firefighter was or the extent of the damage to the building as assessment efforts began soon after the incident.

However, by 12:33 p.m., the situation had been brought under control and the Parkway was reopened to motorists as confirmed by the Gatlinburg Police Department. “The containment of this fire, in our downtown area is a testament to the work of the Gatlinburg Fire Department,” Gatlinburg City Manager Greg Patterson told WBIR. Patterson lauded the firefighters for their quick action which ensured the safety of citizens, businesses, and visitors and expressed his gratitude towards various city departments and the mutual aid from Pigeon Forge's fire service.

The exact cause of the fire is under investigation, but authorities were quick to act against any potential escalation, averting what could have been a disastrous situation at the peak of morning activity in the downtown Gatlinburg area. Cleanup and further investigations into the incident will continue by city and safety officials.