Hundreds of wildfires burning across Louisiana
8/29/2023 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Fire
Relief, Response & Restrictions
AFFECTED AREAS:
Louisiana
Beauregard Parish, LA
Merryville, LA
Saint Tammany Parish, LA
Washington Parish, LA
Start Date: 8/23/2023
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More than 450 fires have blackened parts of Louisiana as record-breaking heat and severe drought conditions gripped the state. The Tiger Island Fire, the largest wildfire in the state’s history, grew from about 15,000 acres on Friday, Aug. 25 to more than 33,000 acres Sunday and was just 50% contained. Two lives have been lost in fires in St. Tammany and Washington parishes.
Louisiana, one of the wettest states in the country, averages 771 wildfires a year, according to 10-year average data from the Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Department. The state has averaged 21 wildfires per day over the past several weeks.
The Washington Post (D.C.), Aug 29, 2023
Hundreds of wildfires were burning in Louisiana amid intense heat and drought. The Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish in western Louisiana led to evacuation orders and blackened more than 10,000 acres, or approximately 16 square miles. The flames reached 300 feet in height.
A statewide burn ban that took effect in early August remained in place. Firefighters were exhausted from battling blazes and pleaded with the public to observe the burn ban.
The Associated Press (Baton Rouge, La.), Aug 23, 2023
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