Single Publication

Tiger Island, Hwy 113, Lions Camp Road and Elizabeth Fires

Daily Update – Saturday September 23, 2023 

Southern Area Complex Incident Management Gold Team

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban

The Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal’s order prohibiting all private burning and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ban on all agricultural burning remain in effect. They are reevaluated weekly. Open burning with exposed flames and prescribed fires are prohibited. Visit https://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf.

Fire Highlights

Fire danger remains extremely high. New fire starts are possible today from lightning strikes. In addition, heavy fuels in drainages, logs and dozer berms continue to hold heat and provide an ignition source for reburn. In particular, the Tiger Island Fire’s southern edge has high potential for burning due to heavy dead and down fuels adjacent to communities.

Yesterday initial attack responded to the 5-acre Ernest Fire southwest of the Hwy. 113 Fire. Using aerial resources, engines and two tractor ploughs they contained it quickly. On the Tiger Island Fire, crews investigated and worked on heat revealed by the infrared flight. Late in the day firefighters observed significant fire spread in needle cast in the fire’s interior and a flare-up in the brush. A helicopter dropped water on these areas and crews put dozer lines around two interior hot spots, one of which was near the town of Merryville. The Lions Camp Fire exhibited no fire activity for the fifth consecutive day, so crews tied in with local resources and private landowners to start timber salvage there. State crews contained a half-acre fire south of the Elizabeth Fire. 

Last night’s infrared flight shows a significant increase in heat on the Hwy. 113 and Elizabeth Fires in the 10-Mile Creek drainage so, helicopters will drop water there this morning. Elsewhere, crews will seek out and mop up hot spots; patrol and hold containment lines; clean out needle cast; and create more depth inside the fires’ perimeters.

Tiger Island Fire: 31,290 acres, no change | 84% contained| 211 personnel assigned 

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-tiger-island-fire 

Hwy. 113 Fire: 7,124 acres, no change | 95% contained | 44 personnel assigned 

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-hwy-113-fire 

Lions Camp Road Fire: 785 acres, no change | 100% contained | 1 person assigned 

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-lions-camp-road-fire 

Elizabeth Fire: 940 acres, no change | 100% contained | 13 personnel assigned 

• InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-elizabeth-fire 

Equipment 

Type 6 engines, dozers, tractor plow units, water tenders, medical squads and ambulances are assigned to the fires. Aerial resources including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft also are available. Parish authorities and departments, sheriff’s offices, and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness are providing additional support.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Today will be hot and humid with similar winds to yesterday. Afternoon and evening showers are likely ahead of an approaching cold front that will push over the region tomorrow. More widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast, some of which may bring heavy rainfall, lightning and gusty outflow winds. Flash flooding and strong to severe thunderstorms are possible, although any rainfall will not be enough to erase the current drought conditions. 

The potential for reburn remains high again today, especially in needle cast and unburned areas. Weather combined with low fuel moisture continue to support the potential for moderate to high fire behavior.

Air Quality

Smoke may occur in reburn areas. Air quality information is available at https://fire.airnow.gov.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)

TFRs remain in place over the Tiger Island Fire (https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_3287.html) and the Hwy. 113 and Elizabeth Fires (https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_3_4500.html). Remember: If you fly, we can’t.