Ashland Wildfire September 2011

Campti, LA (318)476-2200 or Dial 911 Emergency

Ashland Wildland Fire—Sept 2, 2011

NATCHITOCHES, LA (KSLA) - http://www.wistv.com/story/15387155/ashdown-fire-burns-several-buildings-homes

UPDATE: Pilots from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry estimate that the wildfire ravaging the Natchitoches Parish line is around 60% contained.

Firefighters have been battling the large fire near Ashland and Creston L.A. since 1:40 p.m., Friday. The blaze has already damaged or destroyed several homes and buildings in the area.

16 units are fighting the fire: 11 from the LDAF and 5 from the US Forest Service. Personnel are being rotated so firefighting efforts can continue through the night. Fresh personnel will be arriving in the morning to replace the firefighters working overnight.

Fire officials say the fire has moved into the southern part of parish where it meets Natchitoches parish line. The Natchitoches Sheriff's deputies have shut down Hwy. 787 to set up a command post, and are evacuating homes along Hwy. 787 by the Natchitoches Parish line near Hwy. 155.

The Northwest Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross is providing water, food and snacks for firefighters and emergency responders as they battle the fire which bridges rural Natchitoches, Bienville and Red River Parish areas.

The Red Cross said the response may last three or more days and at least 10 homes have already been affected.

The Governor's Office has decided to deploy two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to Natchitoches Parish tomorrow morning where they will begin to help fight the wildfire.

The The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will utilize the two helicopters and their attached helibuckets capable of lifting large amounts of water. The helicopters will deploy from Hammond at dawn.

The two helicopters were requested by local officials, and additional helicopters will be standing by.

It was estimated earlier that the fire had burned around 500 acres, but this estimate has grown significantly as the fire is being aided by a strong headwind and dry, drought conditions.

One LDAF pilot said "It's much larger than 500 acres."