According to published reports and my own eyewitness account, a fire broke out around 11:00 a.m. along a trail on Buffalo Mountain on Wednesday May 9, 2008.  Throughout the day smoke billowed up from the mountain and as night neared, many in Johnson City were horrified and in awe by the red light which crowned the mountain top.  Hundreds of onlookers poured on to Cherokee Rd to get a sight of this tragedy.  As night fell conditions on the ridge worsened as the wind stoked the fires.  The following photos were made between the hours of 9 p.m. until 10:45 p.m.