(KALB) - Check back for updates as we continue to monitor wildfires in our area and provide resource information.

LIVE WILDFIRE TRACKER: CLICK HERE

NOTE: Emergency Operations Center activated due to wildfire threat in Louisiana

RAPIDES PARISH

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 60% contained. Yesterday, the fire received over one inch of rain in some areas. Crews improved dozer lines and worked on connecting dozer and hand lines, especially in the Tenmile Creek drainage. Today, crews will continue mopping up, patrolling for hotspots and connecting fire lines in the Tenmile Creek drainage.

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 60% contained. Yesterday, the fire received over one inch of rain in some areas, and crews were pulled off the fire in the afternoon due to decreased accessibility and safety concerns. Prior to the rain, crews continued to mop up and patrol along the fire perimeter. Today, crews will be connecting dozer and hand lines in the Tenmile Creek drainage and will continue mopping up and patrolling for hotspots.

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.

VERNON PARISH

LDAF Requests Public Assistance Finding Arson Suspect in Vernon Parish:

For over a week now, multiple wildfires have devastated Vernon Parish. A large number of these fires are caused by natural or mechanical causes. However, wildfire investigators with the LDAF Forestry Enforcement Division have determined that the Lions Camp Fire – which threatened multiple residences and grew to 1,204 acres before it was contained – resulted from arson.

LDAF investigators and Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives are actively investigating this matter.

Investigators are urging you to call law enforcement if you or anyone you know has any information regarding this fire. To report an arsonist or information regarding this fire, call the LDAF 24-hour hotline at 1-855-452-5323 or the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-238-1311.

All calls to the LDAF hotline are anonymous, and the Louisiana Forestry Association is offering up to a $2,000 cash reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the crime.

Note: All persons accused of any crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

BEAUREGARD PARISH

TIGER ISLAND FIRE:

The fire in the Merryville and Singer area is now officially named “Tiger Island Fire” due to the fact that it was started near a hunting club bearing that name. Investigators believe this fire started as a result of arson. They are currently requesting the public’s assistance for any information regarding the person or persons responsible for igniting the fire.

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE:

The BURN BAN is still in effect with ZERO tolerance for violations.

LATEST FROM THE TIGER ISLAND FIRE LA INFORMATION PAGE:

Tiger Island Fire Daily Update, 9-6-23.

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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; 1 Type-2 Crew; 21 Type-6 Engines; 7 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 4 Water Tenders and 3 Ambulances.

Hwy 113: 1 Type-1 Crew; 15 Type-6 Engines; 5 Type-2 Tractor Plow Units; 6 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units; 1 Water Tenders and 4 Ambulances.

Lions Camp Road: 2 Type-6 Engines; 3 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units and 1 Ambulance

Elizabeth: 6 Type-6 Engines; 6 Type-3 Tractor Plow Units and 1 Ambulances

Air Resources Assigned to all Fires: 15 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, 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 65% contained. Yesterday, some rain fell across the western portion of the fire. Crews conducted mop up, patrol and used equipment to knock down berms that may be holding heat along dozer lines. Crews also cleared off firelines with accumulated needlecast. Today, crews will continue mopping up and seeking out hot spots along the firelines. Crews will continue knocking down debris berms that may be holding heat and monitoring for needlecast that has reburn potential.

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. Yesterday, due to wet conditions from Monday’s rainfall, access with heavy equipment was limited in some portions of the fire. Crews continued to connect and improve dozer lines and utilized hand lines to connect lines in areas difficult to access with equipment. Today, crews will evaluate road conditions for equipment access, especially in the Tenmile Creek drainage area. Crews will continue mopping up and patrolling the fire lines.

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 81% contained. Yesterday, crews continued to mop up and patrol, looking for hot spots and cleaning up fire lines. Today, crews will continue mopping up, patrolling and looking for hot spots along the entire fire perimeter.

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 65% contained. Yesterday, crews continued mopping up and patrolling fire lines. Due to muddy road conditions equipment access was limited in certain portions of the fire area. Where crews were able to access, dozers established more direct line as close as possible to the fire perimeter. More direct lines will result in less unburned vegetation within the fire area and will provide crews better access for mopping up and patrolling. Today, crews will continue improving lines and connecting fire lines in the Tenmile Creek drainage.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Temperatures will be warmer and drier this afternoon compared to the past few days with temperatures in the upper 90′s and minimum humidity in the upper 30′s to mid 40′s. The heat index could reach 107 degrees today. Winds will be light and variable, with an occasional wind gust to 15 mph. There is only a slight chance of rain today. However, fuels in the area are still very dry and could burn until there is significantly more moisture. Heat scorched leaves and pine needles are falling and blanketing the ground, especially in Tiger Island Fire footprint, which could result in reburn.

Air Quality: Light smoke is only expected in the vicinity of large fuels that continue to smolder. Reburn could cause higher levels of smoke in localized areas. None of the communities in the area will be impacted by smoke from any of the fires. Expect to see only light smoke in the immediate vicinity of a fire or on interior roads. All monitor locations should see less smoke today due to low fire activity, light winds and high humidity. All communities should experience good air quality. 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.

September 6 update SMOKE REPORT:

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Learn the air quality index numbers and colors: During periods of poor air quality, watch for air quality alerts, pay attention to numbers and colors of air quality monitors, and know when to limit your time outdoors. EPA Smoke Sense is an app that allows you to check current conditions on iPhone and Android. • fire.airnow.gov is a great website that provides even more local information.

Fire

The four fires in the area are Tiger Island (31,082 ac); Elizabeth (940 ac); Hwy. 113 (7,709 ac) and Lions Camp Rd.(785 ac). Low potential for fire activity or smoke today because of firefighters’ work, recent rains, low winds and high humidity.

Smoke

Light smoke in the vicinity of large fuels that continue to smolder. Heat scorched leaves and pine needles have fallen and have covered some of the burned areas. Those areas have the potential for reburn if they did not receive any rain the last two days. Reburn would cause higher levels of smoke in localized areas. None of the communities in the area will be impacted by smoke from the fires. Expect to see only light smoke in the immediate vicinity of a fire or on interior roads. All monitor locations should see less smoke today due to low fire activity, light winds and high humidity. All communities should experience GOOD air quality.

BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE WEDNESDAY MORNING:

As of this morning, we have no changes in road closures and evacuation orders. Two voluntary evacuation orders remain in place for the Junction area east to Williams/Vigor Miers Rd and south to the Merryville town limits border. This includes both sides of Highway 190.

All roadways, Highways 190, 27, 110, 111, and 389, remain open to traffic at this time.

If you have received structural damage to your residence or outbuilding on you property due to this fire please contact 337-353-8902 with your name, address, insurance information, phone number, and what was damaged.

Mop up work continued throughout the day and evening time on the entire Tiger Island Fire taking care of hotspots and improving fire lines and also clearing dozer berms for trapped heat. No new growth was reported with the Tiger Island Fire. There was a new fire from yesterday that occurred when a tree fell on a power line near the area of the River Church located just north of Merryville on Highway 190.

Local and Red Incident Team assets combined on responding to this fire getting lines cut around it and having it contained as it remains at this time but being actively monitored by assets on the ground there. The Tiger Island Fire is now being reported at 65% contained.

Please remember there is STILL a STATEWIDE BURN BAN. We have not gotten enough rain to change the conditions that warrant this ban…not even close. So please be smart and responsible and do YOUR part by NOT BURNING ANYTHING. Thank you.

RESOURCES:

Please be aware that there are people and fake organizations that look to take advantage of people during disasters. Before donating, please ensure it is with a reputable organization:

Cajun Cowboy Rescue is set at the Vernon Parish Rodeo Arena. They’re working Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, Vernon Parish Cattlemen’s Association, and McNeese State University. They are currently taking in livestock and small animals for evacuations. If there’s anything you need livestock wise they said to fill out this form: https://ncba-uvcwn.formstack.com/.../wildfire_damage_survey

FORT JOHNSON OFF POST SOLDIERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS: If you are an Active Duty Soldier or Family Member who resides off post and are affected by an evacuation order issued by local authorities, the Main Post Chapel is open as a temporary safe haven, until further accommodations can be made.

DONATIONS and SUPPLIES for first responders and those affected by the wildfires may be dropped off at the Office of Emergency Preparedness located on Ned Woodham Road, which is east of the old VP Correctional Facility.

There are 2 shelters available at the First Methodist Church and First Baptist Church in DeRidder.

Red Cross, who provided shelter to evacuees at First United Methodist Church in DeRidder, is giving out a case of water and bagged meals to families as they leave to return home.

Catholic Charities of SWLA is providing assistance with case management and food distribution. For those who have lost frozen food, they may be able to help. For more information, CLICK HERE.

A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief feeding unit is set up at the Beauregard Baptist Association (735 West Drive, DeRidder) and is providing meals for all first responders, linemen, forestry, evacuees at the Red Cross Center and they can deliver where needed for volunteers working the fires. Call the BBA office at 337-202-4043 for more information. Check back Friday for meal times.

The Church International - Rosepine has been providing meals for those affected by the fire and first responders in Beauregard and Vernon parishes. Follow the church page for updates for this meal outreach. Check back for future meal times.

The Market on Mahlon Street vendors have been feeding those impacted as well as first responders. Follow the market page to follow their meal updates.

Donations

United Way of Southwest Louisiana has a fire fund where they are collecting money to assist those affected.

The Beauregard Sheriff’s Office says Catholic Charities will be handling private donations of money and food along with distribution of food. They can be contacted at (337) 419-4393.

The United Way of Southwest Louisiana has launched a Fire Relief Fund to support individuals and families who have been affected by the fires in Beauregard Parish. 100% of the proceeds will be directed to distributing these funds to the community and assisting firefighters. Donations can be made on their website HERE or by texting FIRESWLA to 40403.

The United Way is also working with any organization or company that wishes to make an in-kind donation to these communities. If you would like to make an in-kind donation you can fill out an online form HERE.

Elite Window Tinting is taking donations for first responders outside Stine’s on Nelson Road in Lake Charles.

Houston River Fire Department Chief Dean Lappe says they have all the supplies they’ll need for now but will let people know if they start to get low again.

Dewith Carrier State Representative District 32 is collecting donations of Liquid IV Hydration packets to distribute to first responders and volunteers in Beauregard Parish. If you can help, contact the district office at 318-335-0206 and arrangements will be made to pick up the donations.

New Step Outreach, DeRidder, has been making and distributing snack kits for first responders. Contact the organization for more information, 337-226-5602.

Water, Gatorade and non-perishable snacks for first responders can be dropped off at the Westside Fire Station in DeRidder, 102 Wilson Street. Firefighters will get it to the areas in need. This is to limit the traffic in and around the response area.

Evacuee Info

The American Red Cross is set up at the First United Methodist Church, 406 W. Shirley St., DeRidder, with some cots if people need to evacuate. For more information, call the church office at 337-463-4491.

Dry Creek Baptist Camp, 8237 La. 113, is taking in people who need to evacuate. They have lodging and meals. First responders can also go there to cool off, if need be. Call the camp if you have questions, 337-495-3222.

First Baptist Church on the east side of DeRidder is also serving as a shelter for those who need to evacuate.

The Beauregard Covered Arena is being evacuated and animals are being accepted at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, BPSO said.

The Beauregard Parish Fairgrounds will not be taking in animals as they are at full capacity. If you need to contact management call 337-396-7715 or 337-375-2028.

The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Animal Control has availability in their new facility if someone should need to house pets there. For more information, call 337-460-5511. The facility is located at 412 Bolivar Bishop Drive. You may also call if you need assistance with evacuating your pets.

Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office expressed to Singer and Merryville residents that if livestock wanders onto their property and they have the ability to safely keep them, they ask that they please do so and notify the sheriff’s office. Officials said it is likely they had to be “turned out” because of the fire.

ALERTS:

Sign up to receive alerts from the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office by texting your zip code to 888777.

Seventeen parishes in Louisiana - including Beauregard, Vernon, Sabine, Rapides, Grant and Avoyelles - have made emergency declarations due to the wildfires.

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