2023 Louisiana wildfires explained

2023 Louisiana wildfires
Location:Louisiana
References:-->
Acres:33,000
Buildings:21
Fatalities:2
Evacuated:1,500+
-->

In a three-month period from August to October 2023,[1] wildfires in Louisiana have burned more than 60000acres, and forced evacuations across several towns in the state, including Merryville and Singer.[2] [3] [4] First burning on August 22, at least 441 wildfires are active across 17 parishes,[5] and the fires have burned at least 21 buildings, prompting the Federal Emergency Management Agency to approve an assistance grant in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana.[6] At least 100 Louisiana National Guard troops were deployed on standby as several wildfires were contained. The most significant fire, the Tiger Island fire in Beauregard Parish, is the largest wildfire recorded in the state, burning over 50,000 acres.

Preparations and impact

Merryville High School closed, and a high school in Singer, Louisiana was closed.[7] Several state routes across Beauregard Parish were closed, including portions of Louisiana highways 27, 110, and 389.[8] [9] In DeRidder, nursing homes were evacuated as a precaution due to the fast-moving Tiger Island fire.

On August 21, a red flag warning was issued for southwestern Louisiana.[10] Wildfire smoke from the Louisiana wildfires was observed as far as Lafayette and Acadiana.[11] Wildfire smoke also caused hazy skies across the New Orleans metropolitan area, and wildfire smoke was observed as far east as southern Mississippi.[12] [13] Several fires were started across Calcasieu, Sabine, Tangipahoa, and Vernon parishes, where an arrest was made in connection to the Vernon Parish fire.[14] The wildfire in Tangipahoa parish burned 171acres.[15] As of August 26, all fires across Calcasieu, Sabine, Tangipahoa, and Vernon parishes were contained.[16] A mandatory evacuation was issued for portions of Vernon parish.[17] The wildfires also occurred in an area where an "extreme" or "exceptional" drought was occurring.[18] 17 parishes where wildfires were occurring declared a state of emergency. Water infrastructure near Singer was damaged, leading to significant losses in pressure and causing outages.[19] At least two fatalities occurred.

Tiger Island fire

On August 22, a fire started in Beauregard Parish, before spreading to numerous areas of the Parish.[20] Power outages occurred in Singer, Louisiana, and a main water line north of Singer burned due to the fires, forcing the Beauregard Parish Police Jury to shut off water from the connecting water lines, including water lines to Merryville. The fire spread further after a gusty thunderstorm produced wind gusts of over 40mph.[21] At least ten buildings were destroyed by the fires.[22] [23] The town of Evans was also under a mandatory evacuation order. 348 loads of water and nearly 161,000 gallons were used with firefighting efforts. On August 25, evacuation orders were issued for Bancroft and Junction. Two days later, on August 27, the fire grew in size to 33000acres, and, according to officials, became the largest wildfire ever recorded in the state.[24] [25] On August 29, the fire was only 50 percent contained as the fire burned more than 50000acres.[26] [27] The Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry said the fire had been caused by arson.[28] [29] Rainfall across western portions of the fire in early September 2023 helped firefighters to increase the containment of the wildfire to 65 percent.[30] The community of Neale was also burned.[31] One death occurred in Singer.[32]

Pitkin fire

On August 24, a fire described as "out of control" was reported in Vernon Parish, near Pitkin, Louisiana. Nearby residents were evacuated, and multiple structures began to burn.[33] [34]

Response

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the Fire Management Assistance Grant in Beauregard Parish.[35] The American Red Cross assisted with relief efforts, and the United States Army Blackhawk helicopters assisted with firefighting operations in addition to Fort Johnson Crash Trucks. Assistance also came from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,[36] and Tennessee, and 161 bulldozers from the National Guard were deployed.[37] A Boeing CH-47 Chinook was also deployed to help with efforts to drop water onto the fires; at least 161,000 gallons of water were dropped from the CH-47. Four strike teams were to arrive from Florida with 160 firefighters and 20 bulldozers. Merryville, Louisiana was under a mandatory evacuation order that has since been lifted.[38] [39] Emergency operations centers were activated on August 23, and a church was opened for a temporary shelter in DeRidder, Louisiana.[40] [41] On August 25, Texas governor Greg Abbott announced that firefighters and emergency personnel would be dispatched to Merryville, Louisiana to assist in firefighting efforts.[42] More than 200 Louisiana National Guard troops were dispatched to assist in firefighting efforts.[43] Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards stated that "Nobody alive in Louisiana has ever seen these conditions."[44] Governor Edwards also assessed damage across Vernon and Sabine parishes. Toledo Bend Army Recreation Park near the Toledo Bend Reservoir was closed.[45] The United Way of southwest Louisiana started a fire fund for collecting donations to assist wildfire victims. On August 29, Beauregard Parish School Board schools resumed operations and classes.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Heyen . Curtis . October 9, 2023 . Wildfire danger persists in Sabine Parish . October 20, 2023 . . en.
  2. Web site: 2023-08-23 . Louisiana fights wildfires, as extreme heat and dry weather plague the state . 2023-08-25 . AP News . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825001338/https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-louisiana-c4228ffa5c99cffbf952a0fc47aaf724 . live .
  3. Web site: Maschke . Alena . Marcantel . Stephen . 2023-08-25 . Governor warns wildfires not contained: 'Nobody in Louisiana has ever seen these conditions' . 2023-08-26 . The Advocate . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190245/https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/louisiana-governor-warns-wildfires-not-contained/article_c8686618-4386-11ee-b93f-bfd82ba512f3.html . live .
  4. News: Patil . Anushka . 2023-08-29 . Wildfires Burn Across Louisiana, Killing 2 . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-08-30 . 0362-4331.
  5. Web site: Speck . Emilee . 2023-08-27 . Louisiana governor asks for prayers as wildfires rage, thousands remain under evacuation orders . 2023-08-27 . FOX Weather . en-US.
  6. Web site: LaRose . Greg . 2023-08-27 . Louisiana wildfires force more evacuations; 17 parishes under state of emergency . 2023-08-27 . Louisiana Illuminator . en-US.
  7. Web site: Askelson . Kristin . 2023-08-24 . Beauregard wildfire forces more mandatory evacuations; high temps, winds hamper firefighting . 2023-08-25 . The Advocate . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825002911/https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/louisiana-wildfire-forces-emergency-evacuations/article_5a000716-4288-11ee-8f6f-83fed88fe107.html . live .
  8. Web site: Evans . Jakob . 2023-08-22 . Two school closures and voluntary evacuation expanded for parts of Beauregard Parish . 2023-08-25 . KPLC . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825002909/https://www.kplctv.com/2023/08/22/wildfire-blocks-off-highway-110-near-singer/ . live .
  9. Web site: Team . KPLC Digital . 2023-08-24 . Beauregard Wildfire: Town of Merryville under mandatory evacuation, 'Leave immediately' . 2023-08-25 . KPLC . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825025606/https://www.kplctv.com/2023/08/24/beauregard-wildfire-evacuation-orders-remain-place-singer-merryville-area/ . live .
  10. Web site: Burleigh . Emily . 2023-08-25 . TIMELINE: This is how the Tiger Island Fire unfolded, hour by hour . 2023-08-29 . American Press . en.
  11. Web site: White . Ashley . 2023-08-24 . Why is it so smokey and hazy in Lafayette if the Louisiana wildfires are so far away? . 2023-08-26 . The Advocate . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826022448/https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/weather_traffic/louisiana-wildfire-cause-smokey-hazy-conditions-in-lafayette-air-quality/article_4d421aae-42b1-11ee-aabe-5fe6d717a5c5.html . live .
  12. Web site: Choum . Bun . 2023-08-27 . Are you seeing hazy skies? You're not alone. The western Louisiana wildfires are to blame, officials say . 2023-08-27 . WDSU . en.
  13. Web site: Gard . Hannah . 2023-08-27 . Hazy skies caused by western Louisiana wildfires . 2023-08-28 . FOX8 . en.
  14. Web site: Team . KALB Digital . 2023-08-25 . Rosepine man arrested in connection with fire in Providence area . 2023-08-26 . KALB . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825202048/https://www.kalb.com/2023/08/25/rosepine-man-arrested-connection-with-fire-providence-area/ . live .
  15. Web site: LaRose . Greg . 2023-08-26 . Governor: Wildfires present 'very dangerous, unpredictable' weekend for Louisiana . 2023-08-26 . Louisiana Illuminator . en-US . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190141/https://lailluminator.com/2023/08/26/louisiana-wildfires/ . live .
  16. Web site: 2023-08-25 . Sabine Parish's Pirates Cove fire contained; homes destroyed . 2023-08-26 . KTBS . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190151/https://www.ktbs.com/news/sabine-parishs-pirates-cove-fire-contained-homes-destroyed/article_ef0d67a2-4361-11ee-a88b-2bc97ff47e85.html . live .
  17. Web site: 'LEAVE NOW!!' - Mandatory evacuation issued for parts of Vernon Parish due to wildfire . 2023-08-27 . WBRZ . en.
  18. Web site: Bushard . Brian . Hundreds Of Louisiana Wildfires Burn As Record Heat Brings 'Flash Drought' Warnings . 2023-08-27 . Forbes . en.
  19. Web site: Team . KPLC Digital . 2023-08-28 . WILDFIRE UPDATES: Beauregard schools resume Tuesday . 2023-08-29 . KPLC-TV . en.
  20. Web site: Tiger Island - Wildfire and Smoke Map . 2023-08-25 . USA Today . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825030429/https://data.usatoday.com/fires/tiger-island/df972484-6094-4b47-8ad5-1f6128090dc3/ . live .
  21. Web site: Thorington . Brooke . Evacuation order issued for Merryville . 2023-08-25 . louisianaradionetwork.com . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190152/https://louisianaradionetwork.com/2023/08/24/beauregard-parish-wildfires-85-contained/ . live .
  22. Web site: 2023-08-24 . Wildfire force evacuation of La. town experiencing severe drought . 2023-08-25 . New York Daily News . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825034116/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-merryville-louisiana-wildfires-evacuated-sever-drought-20230825-ydgy25fpuvccpe67mqzrl4erdu-story.html . live .
  23. Web site: 2023-08-25 . Dozens of wildfires burn in Louisiana amid scorching heat: "This is unprecedented" - CBS News . 2023-08-26 . www.cbsnews.com . en-US . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825220032/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisiana-wildfires-tiger-island-fire-merryville/ . live .
  24. Web site: Askelson . Kristin . 2023-08-27 . Louisiana's largest fire, at 33,000 acres, will likely burn until 'we get some good, long rain' . 2023-08-27 . The Advocate . en.
  25. Web site: Butine . Angelica . 2023-08-27 . Firefighters, first responders in a nonstop battle against Tiger Island Fire . 2023-08-28 . KPLC . en.
  26. Web site: 2023-08-29 . Record-setting wildfires are burning across Louisiana, fueled by heat and drought . 2023-08-30 . NBC News . en.
  27. News: Amudalat . Ajasa . August 29, 2023 . Louisiana sees 'unprecedented' wildfires amid record heat, drought . The Washington Post.
  28. Web site: Grant . Teddy . September 3, 2023 . Largest wildfire in Louisiana was caused by arson, state officials say . September 7, 2023 . . en.
  29. Web site: September 2, 2023 . Louisiana's Tiger Island wildfire ruled arson, officials say . September 7, 2023 . . en-US.
  30. Web site: Yoshonis . Scott . September 6, 2023 . Firefighters making headway in Louisiana wildfires, Tiger Island now 65% contained . September 7, 2023 . . en-US.
  31. Web site: September 5, 2023 . Wildfire updates for Tuesday, September 4 . September 7, 2023 . . en.
  32. Web site: Foster . Lena . September 7, 2023 . Man dies in Singer house fire Tuesday . September 19, 2023 . KLFY . en-US.
  33. Web site: Team . KPLC Digital . 2023-08-25 . VERNON WILDFIRES: Residents on Graham Road, Lonnie Jean Loop asked to evacuate . 2023-09-01 . . en.
  34. Web site: Staff report . 2023-08-24 . 'Out of control' wildfire in Vernon Parish forces emergency evacuation . 2023-09-01 . The Advocate . en.
  35. Web site: Burleigh . Emily . 2023-08-24 . FEMA approves grant for Beauregard Parish to help with wildfire fighting efforts . 2023-08-25 . American Press . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825083436/https://www.americanpress.com/2023/08/24/fema-approves-grant-for-beauregard-parish-federal-to-help-with-wildfire-fighting-efforts/ . live .
  36. Web site: Grajeda . Antoinette . October 10, 2023 . Arkansas governor deploys firefighters to assist with Mississippi wildfires . October 20, 2023 . . en-US.
  37. Web site: Sauter . Danica . 2023-08-28 . Three mid-state emergency agencies to help with Louisiana wildfires . 2023-08-28 . WSMV . en.
  38. Web site: Baurick . Tristan . 2023-08-23 . Louisiana's largest wildfire triggers evacuations in Beauregard Parish . 2023-08-25 . NOLA.com . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825003125/https://www.nola.com/news/environment/evacuations-ordered-near-louisianas-biggest-wildfire/article_1a84e0ea-41dc-11ee-950f-e35d94369726.html . live .
  39. Web site: Larose . Greg . 2023-08-28 . Louisiana wildfires lead to second fatality; some evacuation orders lifted . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230828175301/https://lailluminator.com/2023/08/28/louisiana-wildfires-2/ . 2023-08-28 . 2023-08-28 . Louisiana Illuminator . en-US.
  40. Web site: Smart . Sara . 2023-08-25 . Wildfires force southwestern Louisiana town to evacuate amid extreme drought . 2023-08-25 . CNN . en . 2023-08-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825033158/https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/24/us/louisiana-wildfires-merryville-evacuation/index.html . live .
  41. News: Salam . Erum . Laughland . Oliver . 2023-08-25 . Louisiana residents told to 'get out now' in face of sweeping wildfire . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-08-26 . 0261-3077 . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826172909/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/25/louisiana-wildfire-tiger-island-fire-evacuation . live .
  42. Web site: 2023-08-25 . Entire Louisiana town under mandatory evacuation because of wildfire . 2023-08-26 . AP News . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190154/https://apnews.com/article/louisiana-wildfire-evacuation-4480702c29478bc8ee48b7108ac2c3ed . live .
  43. Web site: Galatas . Marissa . 2023-08-27 . Gov. Jon Bel Edwards gives an update on wildfires . 2023-08-27 . WDSU . en.
  44. Web site: Video Mandatory evacuations as dangerous wildfires spread across Louisiana . 2023-08-26 . ABC News . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190643/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/mandatory-evacuations-dangerous-wildfires-spread-louisiana-102584700 . live .
  45. Web site: Team . KALB Digital . 2023-08-23 . Wildfire information and resources blog . 2023-08-26 . KALB . en . 2023-08-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230826190657/https://www.kalb.com/2023/08/23/wildfire-information-resources-blog/ . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2023 Louisiana wildfires".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.