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. 

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. Access to portions of the fire area is difficult. Fuel loads in these pine plantations are high. Heavy residual fuels because of Hurricane Laura in 2020 exist and contribute to extreme fire behavior.  

Acreage: 31,342 acres Containment: 50%  

Personnel and Equipment: 347 total personnel; 8 Helicopters, 2 fixed-wing aircraft, 15 Type-6 Engines, 6 Type-2 Tractor Plow Units, 16 Dozers, and 5 Ambulances. Additional support is being provided by the National Guard, Parish authorities, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal Team, Beauregard Sherriff’s office, and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. The National Guard is supporting with Black Hawk helicopters and 4 dozers and the fire response is using Large Air Tankers, Scoopers, and Air Attacks.  

Operations: Wednesday’s operations reported increased fire activity near Hoosier creek on the western side of the fire and near Shin Road on the northwestern edge of the fire perimeter. Crews focused on these areas that were retaining heat and continued to establish dozer line and conduct mop up to ensure containment. Along the northern perimeter, dozers were able to connect containment line into a creek, while crews also identified a contingency line to the north of the dozer line. On the northeastern and eastern perimeters, the National Guard dozers have established containment lines giving access to engines to conduct patrol and mop up operations. The structure protection group continues to coordinate with local parishes on water usage in all areas of the fire. They also continue to assess fire hydrants and ensure structure protection resources are in place if needed.  

Weather and Fire Behavior: A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. for hot, very dry conditions with wind gusts up to 17 mph. Temperatures will continue to be in the mid to high 90s, and humidity levels will remain in the low 20s. Due to the unseasonably low humidity, the air temperature and heat index are identical, similar to conditions normally seen in west Texas, not Louisiana. Fuels remain critically dry and, combined with gusty winds, have the potential to produce extreme fire behavior.  

Air Quality: Increasing smoke in localized areas of the fire could occur due to hotter and drier weather. Expect some smoke on roads adjacent to the fire, especially in the Merryville area. If we have active fire behavior with fire progression, or new starts, there could be high levels of smoke for short durations in the vicinity of the fire. 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) remains in place over the fire area; information is at Federal Aviation Administration website. This is necessary to protect aerial operations. If there are intrusions into the Temporary Flight Restrictions, we must ground all aircraft.  

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

Two fires currently burning in a mix of timber and brush on the Colville Indian Reservation and one in patrol status comprise the Inchelium Complex: Inchelium Highway Fire, Kewa Fields Fire, and Fry Fire. 

All three fires are being managed for full suppression. Crews remain focused on securing exterior lines with an emphasis on mopping up around structures, and the ongoing protection of natural and cultural resources. 

Eastern forests cover about 384 million acres (1,550,000 km2) and are predominantly broadleaf (74%), with the exception of extensive coniferous forests and plantations in the southern coastal region. These are largely in private ownership (83%). By contrast, about 363 million acres (1,470,000 km2) of western forests are predominantly coniferous (78%) and in public ownership (57%).

ATTENTION VISITORS:
We apologize that our office is periodically closed as we are out in the field.

We encourage calling prior to visiting the office to ensure staff will be onsite.

The main phone number voice messages will be answered during business hours.

Forest information, activity specific brochures, & trail guides can be found on the inside of our covered porch through our main office door. Fuelwood permits can be placed in the lockbox inside our office covered porch, to the right of the 2nd entry door.

Information

The Potomac-Garrett State Forest, situated in southwestern Garrett County in Western Maryland, has the distinction of being the birthplace of forestry conservation in Maryland. The generous donation of 1,917 acres by the Garrett Brothers in 1906 not only serves as the foundation of the Garrett State Forest but is the root of both Maryland's present Public Lands system and Forest Service. Mountain forests, streams and valleys make up the nearly 19,000 acres of this State Forest.

Potomac-Garrett State Forest is predominantly a second growth mixed hardwood forest dominated by mixed oaks, sugar and red maples, black cherry, basswood, ash and birch. The geography of this area provides for a wide range of growing conditions from the harsh, wind and ice swept ridge tops of Backbone Mountain to the deep rich slopes above the North Branch of the Potomac River. Much of the State Forest lands contain excellent quality hardwoods.

ATTENTION VISITORS:
We apologize that our office is periodically closed as we are out in the field.

We encourage calling prior to visiting the office to ensure staff will be onsite.

The main phone number voice messages will be answered during business hours.

Forest information, activity specific brochures, & trail guides can be found on the inside of our covered porch through our main office door. Fuelwood permits can be placed in the lockbox inside our office covered porch, to the right of the 2nd entry door.

Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Days and times are subject to change based on staffing.
Other days/hours may be available by calling the headquarters for scheduling.

​​Information

The Potomac-Garrett State Forest, situated in southwestern Garrett County in Western Maryland, has the distinction of being the birthplace of forestry conservation in Maryland. The generous donation of 1,917 acres by the Garrett Brothers in 1906 not only serves as the foundation of the Garrett State Forest but is the root of both Maryland's present Public Lands system and Forest Service. Mountain forests, streams and valleys make up the nearly 19,000 acres of this State Forest.

Potomac-Garrett State Forest is predominantly a second growth mixed hardwood forest dominated by mixed oaks, sugar and red maples, black cherry, basswood, ash and birch. The geography of this area provides for a wide range of growing conditions from the harsh, wind and ice swept ridge tops of Backbone Mountain to the deep rich slopes above the North Branch of the Potomac River. Much of the State Forest lands contain excellent quality hardwoods.

ATTENTION VISITORS:
We apologize that our office is periodically closed as we are out in the field.

We encourage calling prior to visiting the office to ensure staff will be onsite.

The main phone number voice messages will be answered during business hours.

Forest information, activity specific brochures, & trail guides can be found on the inside of our covered porch through our main office door. Fuelwood permits can be placed in the lockbox inside our office covered porch, to the right of the 2nd entry door.

Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday, 7:00am to 3:30pm
Days and times are subject to change based on staffing.
Other days/hours may be available by calling the headquarters for scheduling.

​​Information

The Potomac-Garrett State Forest, situated in southwestern Garrett County in Western Maryland, has the distinction of being the birthplace of forestry conservation in Maryland. The generous donation of 1,917 acres by the Garrett Brothers in 1906 not only serves as the foundation of the Garrett State Forest but is the root of both Maryland's present Public Lands system and Forest Service. Mountain forests, streams and valleys make up the nearly 19,000 acres of this State Forest.

Potomac-Garrett State Forest is predominantly a second growth mixed hardwood forest dominated by mixed oaks, sugar and red maples, black cherry, basswood, ash and birch. The geography of this area provides for a wide range of growing conditions from the harsh, wind and ice swept ridge tops of Backbone Mountain to the deep rich slopes above the North Branch of the Potomac River. Much of the State Forest lands contain excellent quality hardwoods.

Update: Forward progress stopped and fire is 100% contained. Some smokes, visible to the public may remain in the interior. Dust devil siting possible in higher windy conditions. 

A wildfire started in Camp Loop D was directly impacted after an un-forecasted dry microburst occurred in the Washington DC area. The dry microburst, of erratic wind gusts exceeding 100 mph caused structural damage to nearby residential buildings, businesses, and roadways limiting emergency response.

The fast-moving wildfire caused multiple injuries (minor-severe) to park visitors as evacuation routes became blocked from fallen trees, a fast-moving wildfire, and vehicle accidents.

Incident Publication Titles should be descriptive and include the date, incident name, title, etc. The use of certain special characters is allowed, including: . (period), / (forward slash), : (colon), ‘ (apostrophe), # (hashtag), & (ampersand), ( (left parenthesis), ) (right parenthesis), - (hyphen), – (dash), _ (underscore), and ~ (tilde).

Incident Publication Titles should be descriptive and include the date, incident name, title, etc. The use of certain special characters is allowed, including: . (period), / (forward slash), : (colon), ‘ (apostrophe), # (hashtag), & (ampersand), ( (left parenthesis), ) (right parenthesis), - (hyphen), – (dash), _ (underscore), and ~ (tilde).

A wildfire started in Camp Loop D was directly impacted after an un-forecasted dry microburst occurred in the Washington DC area. The dry microburst, of erratic wind gusts exceeding 100 mph caused structural damage to nearby residential buildings, businesses, and roadways limiting emergency response.

The fast-moving wildfire caused multiple injuries (minor-severe) to park visitors as evacuation routes became blocked from fallen trees, a fast-moving wildfire, and vehicle accidents.