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Terrifying video captures man’s escape down mountain during Gatlinburg wildfires

Posted at 12:04 PM, Nov 29, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-29 12:04:05-05

GATLINBURG, Tenn. — A video showing a man’s daring escape down a mountain during the Gatlinburg wildfires is going viral.

Editor’s note: The video contains vulgar language. Viewer discretion advised.

Michael Luciano posted the video to his Facebook page less than 12 hours ago, and it already has over 2.2 million views.

According to WBIR, Luciano lives in Chalet Village off Ski Mountain Road, and told the television station he’s pretty sure his home is gone. He also said he’s worried that people were trapped in their homes and may have died.

Luciano took the video while his business partner drove down the mountain, along his Luciano’s dog Red, WBIR reports. They all made it out safely despite the thick smoke, falling debris and flames on both sides of the roadway.

“Please Lord, let us get off this mountain,” Luciano said in the video.

You can see Luciano’s full journey down the mountain documented on his Facebook page here.

The wildfires have forced more than 14,000 residents and visitors to be evacuated from Gatlinburg alone, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday morning. TEMA said at least four people have been hospitalized with burns.