The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry urgently appeals to the public for assistance in identifying the culprit behind the Tiger Island Fire’s ignition.
State officials have officially declared the Tiger Island Fire, the largest wildfire in Louisiana’s history, to be an act of arson, as revealed on Saturday
The Tiger Island Fire ignited on August 22 in Beauregard Parish, southwestern Louisiana, and has already ravaged a vast expanse of 48.43 square miles, causing extensive damage to over 20 residences and structures. Currently, the Tiger Island fire is only 50% contained. At its peak, the blaze necessitated the evacuation of approximately 1,200 residents from the town of Merryville, situated close to the Texas border. Though mandatory evacuation orders were lifted earlier this week, there have been no reports of casualties or injuries linked to the Tiger Island inferno.
Louisiana has been grappling with an unusual summer marked by scorching heat and severe drought conditions, witnessing an astonishing 441 wildfires in August alone, placing an immense strain on the state’s resources.
Most of the southwest region of Louisiana has been classified as experiencing an “exceptional drought” by the U.S. Drought Monitor
“This is unprecedented,” declared Mike Strain, the Commissioner for Louisiana’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry, last month.
To aid in the capture of the responsible party, the Louisiana Forestry Association has offered a $2,000 reward, further intensifying efforts to bring the arsonist behind the Tiger Island Fire to justice.
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