The state’s four largest wildfires continue to burn but are more than 50 percent contained. State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says things are looking better and the Tiger Island Fire is now 80 percent contained.
“That fire got up to about 34 – 35 thousand acres. And we’ve got the tract now reduced to about 31 thousand. We’re still there fighting fire.”
More than 1,200 emergency responders from 120 agencies and 26 states have fought wildfires across the state. Strain says it took additional personnel and special equipment to contain fires.
“We brought in air tankers and they call the super scoopers. We had two of these and they would land in Toledo Bend. Run for miles, and skim the top of the water, that’s how they would load. Come up and drop water.”
The Highway 113 Fire is 89 percent contained, the Lion’s Camp Road Fire is 88 percent contained, and the Elizabeth Fire is 73 percent contained. No injuries or deaths have been reported, but at least 20 structures have been damaged or destroyed. Strain urges Louisianans to continue to respect the burn ban.
“We’ll continue to fight until we have won but we have not lost a town. As soon as we can we’re going to lift the burn ban and don’t light that match.”
The statewide burn ban remains in effect.
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