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Louisiana Statewide Burn Ban:  The State Fire Marshal’s Office’s order prohibiting ALL private burning and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry ban on all agricultural burning, remain in effect. These are reevaluated weekly. Open burning with exposed flames is prohibited with no exceptions. The use of prescribed fires is also banned. More information is available at http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/doc/press/pr_2023-36.pdf

Highlights:  Comments from the Incident Commander this morning:  “New Day-Same Situation.”   Fire personnel are striving to attain 100% containment on all of the fires, yet cannot be complacent.  The Elizabeth Fire has been 100% contained but is not under control, as helicopter resources were used to cool reburn inside the lines.  Needle cast and reburn is occurring on all of the fires, but staying within their original footprints. With aerial resources being heavily used, ground crews were reminded to be vigilant as a 2000 gallon bucket drop weighs eight tons. Crews continue to clean firelines, mopup and suppress reburn on all of the fires. The Southern Area Gold Team will transition with the Southern Area Blue Team and assume command on Saturday morning.

Tiger Island Fire: 31,290 acres, no change | 84% containment| 117 personnel assigned (down 87)

              Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-tiger-island-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Hwy 113 Fire: 7,124 acres, no change | 95% containment | 37 personnel assigned (down 10)

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-hwy-113-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Lions Camp Road Fire: 785 acres, no change | 91% containment | 7 personnel assigned (down 10)

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-lions-camp-road-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Elizabeth Fire: 940 acres, no change | 100% containment | 5 personnel assigned (down 1)

              InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lalas-elizabeth-fire

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TigerIslandFire

Equipment resources assigned to the fires include Type 6 Engines; Dozers; Tractor Plow Units; and Water Tenders. Aerial resources include helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Additional support is being provided by Parish authorities and departments; Sheriff’s Offices; and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Weather & Fire Behavior:   Today’s weather has predicted slightly higher relative humidity dropping to 30%, with temperatures in the  low 90s, but winds will be gusting up to 20 mph.  New fire starts have the potential to move over a ½ mile per hour in fine grass fuels.  Heat is being detected by overnight infrared flights primarily in hardwood drainages, where duff layers are still thick. With adjacent needle cast, there is potential for reburn to kindle and pick up speed as observed three nights ago with the large spot on the Tiger Island Fire.  Over 1/3 of the State of Louisiana is experiencing EXCEPTIONAL EXTREME drought and that is not expected to change over the coming weeks. An additional 12” to 15” inches of rain over a period of weeks is needed to correct the current drought.

Air Quality: Smoke may occur in areas of reburn. Air quality information is available at the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map at: https://fire.airnow.gov/ .

Temporary Flight Restriction: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the Tiger Island Fire and Hwy 113 and Elizabeth Fire areas. If you fly, we can’t. Aircraft or drone intrusions into the restricted airspace endangers aircrews conducting fire operations and aerial resources are grounded for safety. This unnecessarily places aircrews and ground fire crews at risk in a dynamic and dangerous fire environment.