On Monday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced on Twitter that she was deploying Alabama National Guard troops along with two Black Hawk and a Chinook helicopters to Louisiana to fight the wildfires there.
Gov. Ivey wrote, “I have authorized the @AlabamaNG to deploy two black hawks and a chinook to assist Louisiana in combatting the devastating wildfires. Our prayers are with all affected and the emergency responders. Alabama stands ready in this time of crisis to help win this fight. @LouisianaGov.”
A drought combined with record-breaking high temperatures has led to more than 450 fires in Louisiana. The Tiger Island Fire is the largest wildfire in the state’s history. According to local news reports, it tore through Beauregard Parish in the southwestern part of the state and grew from an estimated 15,000 acres to over 33,000 acres between Friday and Sunday. The fire is currently only 50 percent contained. The fires are already responsible for two deaths.
All 1,200 residents of Merryville in Beauregard Parish were forced to evacuate their homes. The fires have already consumed an estimated 20 structures.
Mike Strain is commissioner of the Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Department.
“Wildfires this many and of this intensity are unprecedented,” Strain told The Washington Post. Louisiana is one of the wettest states in the country and averages 771 wildfires a year, according to 10-year average data from the department. The state has averaged 21 wildfires per day over the past several weeks, Strain said.
“With this kind of heat, the low humidity, and the lack of rainfall, this is probably the driest conditions, the most drought-prone conditions we’ve had in a generation,” Strain said.
On Sunday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards held a Unified Command Group meeting with all the responding state and federal agencies who continue to provide state resources and assistance to all parishes impacted by the wildfires. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) announced that FEMA has approved Louisiana’s request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) declaration to help with wildfire fighting efforts for the Lions Camp Road Fire and Providence Fire in Vernon Parish.
“We remain in constant communication with all of our federal partners and are grateful for their quick approval of our request for assistance to help Vernon Parish combat these dangerous wildfires,” said Gov. Edwards. “The conditions Louisiana is facing are unprecedented, and unfortunately, there is no evidence it’s going to end any time soon. Now is not the time to let our guard down. We must remain vigilant and ensure that we are doing all we can to prevent any additional fires. This means adhering to the statewide burn ban, properly disposing of cigarettes, securing tow chains, and being extra careful to avoid any outdoor activities that involve lighting a fire. Lastly, I want to remind everyone that wildfire smoke is spreading across Louisiana, not just in parishes with active wildfires. You may notice reduced visibility and the smell of smoke. If you have respiratory issues, avoid outdoor activities while these conditions persist.”
Louisiana is under a statewide burn ban that remains in place until further notice, and there are no exceptions.
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