The Tiger Island Fire was first reported on Tuesday, August 22.
The fire is located east of Merryville, south of Hwy 190, SW of DeRidder and North of Singer. The fire is burning in pine plantations and access to portions of the fire area is difficult and fuel loads in the pine plantations are high. Heavy residual fuels as a result of Hurricane Laura in 2020 exist and its contributing to extreme fire behavior.
As of Tuesday, August 29, the fire is 31,242 acres and 50% of the fire has been contained.
A total of 224 personnel; 6 Helicopters,3 Type-1 Engines, 9 Type-6 Engines, 4 Type-2 Tractor Plow Units, 23 Dozers, 2 Water Tenders, and 6 Ambulances. are being used.
Additional support is being provided by the National Guard, Parish authorities, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal Team, Beauregard Sherriff’s office, and the Office of Emergency Preparedness. The National Guard is supporting with Black Hawk helicopters and 16 dozers and the fire response is using Large Air Tankers, Scoopers, and Air Attacks from Texas.
Crews continue to make progress on the fire, identifying areas to bring dozer lines closer to the fire edge. Night operations reported another quiet night, allowing crews to mop up areas of heat as well as conduct engine patrols. Dozers also worked overnight along the northern perimeter, where areas of heat were identified on the edge of the fire. Today, along the northern perimeter of the fire, crews will work to connect existing dozer lines and improve perimeter lines to ensure containment south of Stamps Road and west of Schuetz Road. Additionally, crews will be working today to prioritize securing the containment line near Merryville and moving to the north and east along the fire perimeter. In portions of the fire where containment lines are established, crews will begin to mop up all areas of heat within 100 feet of the line.
Although the eastern edge of the fire received rain during the day Monday, the drying and warming trends return Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to be in the mid-90s, and humidity levels drop down to about 35%. An isolated shower or thunderstorm could develop during the afternoon but will stay south and east of the fire area. Fuels remain critically dry and, combined with gusty winds, have the potential to produce extreme fire behavior.
Updates on evacuations and available shelters can be found on the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/beauregardsheriff [facebook.com].
