Single Publication

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban:  As a reminder, the active State Fire Marshal’s Office’s burn ban order prohibiting ALL private burning, with no limitations, remains in effect. As does the corresponding burn ban from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry prohibiting all agricultural burning, including but not limited to prescribed burning. However, Louisiana residents can resume outdoor cooking with safety measures in place. See http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf for more information. The use of open flames in fire pits, campfires, barrels, bonfires, burn piles, and like open burning is still prohibited. Citations and arrests ARE happening across this state in partnership with local and state law enforcement agencies. 

Personnel and Equipment:  

Tiger Island: 1 Type-2 Crew; 22 Type-6 Engines; 1 Dozer; 1 Type-2 Tractor Plow Unit; 7 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 3 Water Tenders; 3 Ambulances.

Hwy 113: 1 Type-1 Crew; 15 Type-6 Engines; 5 Type-2 Tractor Plow Units; 6 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 3 Water Tenders.

Lions Camp Road: 1 Type-6 Engine; 3 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units and 1 Ambulance.

Elizabeth: 7 Type-6 Engines; 6 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 1 Water Tender and 1 Ambulance.

Air Resources Assigned to all Fires: 5 Helicopters and 2 Air Attacks.

Additional support is being provided to all fires by Parish authorities and departments, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Sheriff’s offices, and the Offices of Emergency Preparedness.

Tiger Island Fire: The Tiger Island Fire was first reported on Tuesday, August 22nd. The fire is located East of Merryville, south of Hwy 190, SW of DeRidder and North of Singer. The fire is burning in pine plantations of multiple ages. Heavy residual fuels because of Hurricane Laura in 2020 exist and contribute to extreme fire behavior.

Operations: The Tiger Island Fire is currently 71% contained. Yesterday, crews continued to mitigate needlecast along containment lines with dozers and blowers. Needlecast continues to increase throughout the fire footprint. Crews continued to focus mop up efforts in creekbeds in the northeast corner of the fire. Crews also continue to make progress breaking up dozer berms and releasing heat trapped inside. Lastly, crews are patrolling for heat from previous lightning strikes near the fire perimeter.

Hwy 113 Fire: Located 14 miles northwest of Oakdale. This fire is burning in loblolly pines and hardwoods.

Operations:  The Hwy 113 fire is currently 63% contained.  Lower humidities and drier air will dry out dozer lines and allow for increased access after previous rains. The Tenmile Creek drainage, which intersects containment lines in the north and south sections of the fire, continues to be high priority for mop up. Removing needlecast from containment lines remains a top priority to ensure reburn stays within the fire perimeter. Firefighters are improving firelines and utilizing hand crews and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) to access portions of the fireline.

Lions Camp Road: Five miles northwest of Leesville. This fire is burning in southern rough, timber and brush.

Operations: The Lions Camp Road Fire is currently 83% contained. Yesterday, crews monitored the fire area for reburn and used infrared imagery to search for heat sources. They also looked for any remaining heat from lightning strikes and mitigated needlecast. Today, crews will continue to mop further to the interior of the containment line.

Elizabeth: Located in southwest Rapides Parish. The fire is south of Ten Mile Road and northeast of state Louisiana Hwy 462.

Operations:  The Elizabeth Fire is 72% contained. Yesterday, crews continued to improve dozer lines to allow access for engines to mop up. Crews cleared out needlecast from containment lines and monitored reburn. Today, crews will utilize dozers to push over hazard trees near the fire perimeter to promote safety and continue to mitigate needlecast.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Drier air pushes through the area today, dropping the relative humidity to 25-30 percent during midday. The temperature will be slightly cooler than previous days, with a maximum of the mid-90’s in the afternoon. Low relative humidity will lead to increased fire behavior in the afternoon, increasing chances for reburn across all four fires. Winds will be light, with slight gusts in the afternoon, further contributing to increased fire activity. Fuels are still critically dry, with drought indexes at record highs. Drought conditions are increasing needlecast reburn across all fires and continue to be the highest priority for fire crews.

Air Quality: Smoke today from Canadian wildfires will remain for the next few days. From local fires, expect light smoke in the vicinity of large fuels that continue to smolder. New ignitions or reburn in areas where heavy needlecast is present could lead to additional smoke. Communities should experience moderate air quality today with periods of good. For real time air quality information see EPA's Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/. Today is the last day that a smoke report will be produced for these fires.

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Tiger Island Fire and Hwy 113 and Elizabeth Fire areas. This is necessary to protect aerial operations. If you fly, we can’t. If there are drone intrusions into the Temporary Flight Restrictions, we must ground all aircraft.