( CNN ) -- Heavy rains doused most of a wildfire that had damaged more than 35 buildings near the Tennessee resort town of Pigeon Forge , allowing authorities Monday to take firefighters off the line . Only five acres were still burning Monday evening , Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director James Bassham told CNN affiliate WATE . A small crew remained in the area to monitor hot spots , the station said . Earlier , authorities had evacuated more homes as high winds fanned the wildfire and caused problems for helicopters sent in to help fight the flames . Authorities were evacuating more residents as the fire threatened 15 to 20 homes in the Priscilla Heights area of Sevier County , Tennessee , Dean Flener of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said . About 150 people were evacuated Sunday and the American Red Cross opened a shelter at the Pigeon Forge Community Center . Hotels are also allowing residents to stay for free , Flener said . About 20 fire departments had been fighting the fire , which had burned 260 acres , authorities said . `` Propane tanks have been exploding , '' Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson said Sunday . `` It 's been real dangerous . '' The blaze started as a house fire , he said . `` It looks like somebody just went through there and just dropped a bomb on the place , '' Shannon McCostlin told WATE . `` I feel bad for them people . '' The area is home to rental cabins with some permanent residences . Pigeon Forge , in eastern Tennessee , is best known for singer Dolly Parton 's theme park , Dollywood , which was not affected by the fire . Positioned on the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains , the area also is popular with outdoors enthusiasts and has a wide variety of other attractions , including music theaters , outlet malls , go-kart tracks and miniature golf courses . CNN 's Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report .
NEW : Rain helps put out most of wildfire near resort town in eastern Tennessee . NEW : Firefighters have been able to leave , as just a few hot spots remain . About 20 fire departments had been battling the blaze , which started Sunday as a house fire . Fire charred more than 35 buildings , turned propane tanks into shrapnel .