Rain slowed but won’t stop Louisiana’s largest wildfire as it creeps toward towns

By Tristan Baurick
NOLA.com
August 28, 2023
Category: Forest Fires
Region: United States, US East

Louisiana’s largest wildfire doubled in size over the weekend but slowed to a crawl after a short bout of rain on Sunday night. Predicted hot and dry conditions for much of the week mean the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish will likely flare up again, fire officials said Monday. The fire, which is burning about five miles from the Texas line, was about 50% contained late Sunday. “It doesn’t look like this fire is going to go away anytime soon,” said Susan Heisey, a public information officer for the Southern Area Incident Management Team. The fire, which threatens the towns of Merryville and Singer, grew from 16,000 acres late last week to nearly 33,300 acres on Monday morning. Another wildfire in Beauregard near Longville has burned about 19,200 acres, according to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office. Smoke from both fires has produced smoke that has traveled over New Orleans and beyond.

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