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Fire Update

Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban: The state of Louisiana has declared a statewide burn ban to include any open flame outdoors. The message from the State Fire Marshal’s Office is “don’t burn anything” until further notice. Citations and arrests ARE happening across this state in partnership with local and state law enforcement agencies.
 

Personnel and Equipment:  
Tiger Island: 1 Type-1 Crew; 17 Type-6 Engines; 10 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 5 Dozers; 2 Water Tenders and 4 Ambulances. 
Hwy 113: 1 Type-1 Crew; 14 Type-6 Engines; 5 Type-2 Tractor Plow Units; 9 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 4 Water Tenders
Lions Camp Road: 1 Type-6 Engine; 1 Ambulance
Elizabeth: 3 Helicopters; 1 Type-6 Engine; 1 Type-7 Engine; 5 dozers; 1 Air Attack
Additional support is being provided to all fires by the National Guard, Parish authorities and departments,  the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal Team, 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 50% contained. Saturday’s operations included mopping up around containment lines as needed, using utility task vehicles (UTVs) in places that were not accessible to fire engines.  The fire is staying in the established containment line. Today, crews will continue to mop up and monitor for hotspots. Crews will be continuing to monitor needlecast which has been accumulating in the fire area in particular on the west side and South end of the fire.  
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 50% contained. On Saturday, the fire was active on the northeast corner.  Dozer line was established and improved to allow for mop up operations to occur. Scattered pockets of heat have been identified around the perimeter and mop up continues on these areas until all heat is extinguished. The National Guard worked to improve dozer lines on the north side of the fire. Helicopters were used to cool hotspots and the fire received minimal rain yesterday. Crews will be working across the fire today to establish containment lines, patrol for hotspots and mop up.
Lions Camp Road: Five miles northwest of Leesville. This fire is burning is southern rough, timber and brush.
Operations: A dozer line was completed around the fire. Crews also worked to improve the fireline and begin mop up. Isolated hotspots and areas of smoke were identified and mopped up along the fire perimeter. Today, crews will patrol for hotspots and improve the existing fireline.
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 currently 50% contained. A small portion of the fire was active on Saturday, backing into the hardwood leaf litter, and pushing toward the fireline, especially on the northwest corner of the fire. Helicopters were used to cool hotspots. Crews worked on the south end of the fire to connect dozer line into Tenmile creek.  Crews monitored the perimeter, improved firelines and mopped up.  Today, crews will work to strengthen dozer lines around the fire and begin mop up.  
Weather and Fire Behavior:  Temperatures will be in the high 90’s today. Winds are expected from the southeast with gusts up to 18 mph. Isolated rain showers are possible this morning with numerous storms predicted by this afternoon. The heat index will be over 100 with humidity in the mid 40’s, making today hot and muggy. A seabreeze is possible this afternoon producing gusty winds. Yesterday’s rainfall, combined with diminishing heat from mop up activities, will make fire activity minimal today. 
Air Quality: All four fires are projected to produce low levels of smoke. If there is active fire behavior or new fire starts, there could be high levels of smoke for a short duration near fires. There is a chance for thunderstorms with gusty and erratic winds that could move smoke in any direction. Smoke from the Tiger Island Fire will be most apparent in the Merryville and Junction areas. Smoke from the Elizabeth and Hwy. 113 fires will be most noticeable in the Cora area and Hwy. 113 between the two fires. Lake Charles should expect smoke from fires SE and SW of town. For near time air quality information see EPA's Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/ 

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. 
Evacuations: Updates on evacuations and shelters for the Tiger Island Fire can be found on the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/beauregardsheriff.