Did Tennessee authorities fail to send a warning about fatal wildfire? Many claim they did not receive a notice to evacuate as the death toll climbs to 13

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Officials said an order to evacuate a wildfire that tore through Tennessee this week was not sent out to mobile phones in Gaitlinburg as the death toll rises to 13 on Friday.

Jeff Carter, one of many people claiming they did not receive any notice, went to sleep at 7pm on Monday and awoke five hours later as the blaze spread near his apartment, USA Today reported.

It remains unclear why the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System failed, although one spokesman said a cell tower damaged by the fires could have played a role.

On Friday, the death toll included two more people, and the victims Alice Hagler, 70, May Vance, and couples Jon and Janet Summers, along with John and Janet Tegler were confirmed dead.

Jon and Janet Summers (pictured) of Memphis, Tennessee, were in a car, celebrating their twin sons' birthdays when they tried to escape on foot and died

Their three sons Branson, Jared and Wesley were hospitalized, with one in critical condition

The death toll rose to 13 on Friday and several people in the area are still unaccounted for (pictured, the Summerses)

Alice Hagler died while she was staying at a cabin rental called Chalet Village

The wildfire, which erupted on November 23, eventually spread across 17,000 acres with the help of drought-parched brush and fierce winds.

Numerous spot fires to broke out before they exploded into an inferno on Monday, destroying nearly 1,000 buildings while 14,000 people were forced to evacuate from the resort towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

Authorities have dubbed it the Chimney Tops 2 fire, which is now the nation's single deadliest wildfire since 2013, when 19 firefighters died near Prescott, Arizona.  

Officials at the local, state and federal level confirmed alerts had not been sent out to people in Gatlinburg, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported. 

Dean Flener, spokesperson for the state's Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said an alert was issued to mobile phones in Gatlinburg at around 9.04pm, but said a cell tower engulfed in fire may have prevented some from receiving the message. 

 The wildfire in eastern Tennessee eventually spread across 17,000 acres. Dubbed the Chimney Tops 2 fire, it is now the nation's single deadliest wildfire since 2013

The Gatlinburg Fire Department ordered the mandatory evacuation of the town, but officials confirmed alerts had not been sent out to people in Gatlinburg

John Matthews, of the Sevier County Emergeny Management Agency, said he told TEMA to issue to evacuation notice, but Flener said Matthews had contacted the National Weather Service instead.

Matthews said he didn't remember who he issued the request to, since the fire had spread to the local command post, and emergency officials were too busy evacuating themselves.  

Carter, who works at the Brookside Resort and Event Center, awoke to the fire and told USA Today: 'No text alerts, not anything. And you get Amber alerts on the phone.' 

At least 13 people have died from the fires, and several people in the area are still unaccounted for.

A burned car sits in a parking lot Wednesday, in Gatlinburg

The mountain cable cars hover over the burned out mountainside (left) while smoke still lingers above the smoldering homes near Gatlinburg

Alice Hagler, 70, was staying at a cabin rental called Chalet Village. She was confirmed dead by her son.

Jon and Janet Summers of Memphis, Tennessee, were in a car, celebrating their twin sons' birthdays when they tried to escape on foot and died.

Their three sons Branson, Jared and Wesley were hospitalized, with one in critical condition. A crowdfunding effort has raised more than $64,000 for their medical expenses.

John and Janet Tegler, an elderly couple from Canada, were also among the victims at Chalet Village.

May Vance died from a heart attack caused by smoke inhalation.

A bulletin released Thursday said: 'The wildfire was determined to be human-caused and is currently under investigation.'