Governor John Bel Edwards was in southwest Louisiana this afternoon to get a first hand look at the response to numerous wild fires in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes. Edwards says the state is dealing with an unprecedent event.
“To have these fires burning the way they are and jumping fire lines and when the wind picks up to have the fires burning in the crowns of trees rather than on the ground and low where they can be more easily contained makes for a very difficult and dangerous situation,” said Edwards.
The governor says thankfully the fires have not resulted in any fatalities and he credits local officials for being prudent with their evacuation orders.
The governor has activated about 100 Louisiana National Guard soldiers to help in the fight against the wildfires. Several Black Hawk helicopters are dumping thousands of gallons of water on the fires. National guard engineering crews on the ground are using dozers to create fire lanes to help prevent the spread of wildfires.
Edwards says the situation is constantly changing, just when you think a fire is contained, it can quickly spread again when the wind kicks up.
“The fires are routinely jumping the state highways, so just think about the width of those rights of ways and the fire is jumping those rights of ways and continuing to grow uncontained,” said Edwards.
According to the U.S. Drought monitor, about 50% of the state is considered to be in extreme and exceptional drought. Edwards says the next chance for significant rain is Tuesday night.
“And that chance of rain as of right now 50% and if it’s not a good, hard sustained rain we are not sure it’s going to have the impact that we need it to have,” said Edwards.
The statewide burn ban was updated on Friday afternoon taking out the exceptions for prescribed burns, so no agricultural burns are allowed as well.
Comments