The governor has activated about 100 Louisiana National Guard soldiers to help in the fight against the state’s wildfires. Several Black Hawk helicopters are dumping thousands of gallons of water on the fires. National Guard engineering crews on the ground are using dozers to create fire lines to help prevent the spread of more wildfires.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the situation around the state is constantly changing, and just when you think the fire is contained, it can spread rapidly when the wind kicks up.

Cut 15 (12) “…uncontained.”

It was previously reported that the only structures burned were a few deer stands and camps but Beauregard Parish Sheriff spokesperson Shannon Burgess says that has now changed.

More wildfires erupted in Vernon Parish Thursday, but have since been contained and an arrest has been made in connection with one of the fires Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Tech was expected to unveil six statues for Sarah and A.L. Williams Champions Plaza but one of them will not arrive on time for today’s celebration. It is unknown whose statue did not arrive and when it will get to Ruston.

We are under a week away from LSU’s game against Florida State. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 ahead of their Labor Day matchup, and the game is also a rematch from last year when the Seminoles won 24-23. Tiger Rag editor Todd Horne says Florida State will be relying heavily on quarterback Jordan Travis even though Horne does not think he is the best.

Cut 19 (17) “…not great.”

Horne has continuously been at LSU’s fall practices and he says after seeing them, they will be able to protect returning quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Cut 20 (12) “…right now.”

Saints Coach Dennis Allen said to the media that he does not expect to see quarterback Derek Carr or many other starters take the field in their final preseason game against the Texans. The Saints have seen production in the preseason so far from their rookies and free-agent acquisitions, and Allen says that he feels very confident in this year’s Saints team.

Cut 28 (14) “…our team.”

Allen is entering his second year as the team’s head coach, and captain linebacker Demario Davis says that this is the most comfortable Allen has been since joining the team almost a decade ago.

Cut 19 (17) “…that are undisclosed.

Governor John Bel Edwards was in southwest Louisiana Friday afternoon to get a firsthand look at the response to numerous wildfires in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes. Edwards says the state is dealing with an unprecedented event…

Cut  14 (16)  “.. .dangerous situation”

An arrest has been made in connection to one of the wildfires that erupted near Rosepine in Vernon Parish Thursday. Sheriff Sam Craft says Paul Nash faces two felony arson charges for violating the burn ban. Craft says Nash lit a brush pile in his backyard and it quickly spread…

Cut 6 (08) “…massively.”
Craft says there’s no excuse for setting anything on fire in these dire conditions.

The United Way of Southwest Louisiana has launched a fund to help those affected by the fires in Southwest Louisiana. CEO Denise Durel says as we approach the anniversary of Laura never would she have expected these wildfires.

Cut 13 (10) “…in this space.”

If you want to make a donation to help out with the fire relief, go to UnitedwaySWLA.org.

A jury needed only six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 39-year-old Joey Clement (Clay-mon) of Thibodaux for killing three teenagers in a fatal DWI crash in 2021. Lafourche Parish Assistant District Attorney Shaun George the girls were out celebrating one of the victim’s birthdays…

Cut 5 (14) “ ..sadly.” 

The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man from Rosepine for starting a wildfire that engulfed his neighbor’s home. Sheriff Sam Craft says 59-year-old Paul Nash was burning trash piles on his property and that small fire erupted into a wildfire that destroyed two mobile homes and an undetermined amount of timber. There have been reports of individuals claiming they didn’t know the statewide burn ban was in effect. Craft says that’s no excuse.
Cut 8 (08) “…outside.”
And the reason why there’s a burn ban is because half of the state is under extreme and exceptional drought conditions. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 14 (08) “…drought class”
The state’s burn ban also includes any kind of agricultural burn.

The state’s largest wildfire is the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish and it’s only 50-percent contained. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the town of Merryville and the Junction communities. The United Way of Southwest Louisiana has launched a fund to help out everyone affected by the fires. CEO Denise Durel on where the money would immediately go.
Cut 12 (08) “…at initially.”
Go to United-Way-S-W-L-A-dot-org.

39-year-old Joey Clement of Thibodaux has been convicted on vehicular and negligent homicide charges for a drunk driving crash that killed three teenage girls in November 2021. Lafourche Parish Assistant District Attorney Shaun George…
cut 4 (12) “…the wheel”
George says Clement was also traveling at 90-miles per hour when struck another vehicle head-on, killing Hali Coss, Michaela Bowling and Lily Dufrene.

The town of Merryville and the Junction areas have a mandatory evacuation order in place for the ongoing wildfires. Beauregard Parish Sherrif spokesperson Shannon Burgess says previously the fire was well contained but winds only fanned the flames. The fire came extremely close to having Merryville go up in flames, but the wind change saved it by less than a mile.

Cut 10 (10) “…in jeopardy.”

In Vernon Parish, Paul Nash has been arrested and charged with two counts of arson, and violation of the state’s burn ban. Sheriff Sam Craft says the suspect lit a brush pile in his backyard and it quickly got out of control.

Cut 7 (07) “…that critical.” 

Craft says there’s no excuse for setting a blaze in these conditions.

Thirty-nine-year-old Joey Clement (Clay-mon) of Thibodaux has been found guilty of killing three teenagers in a 2021 drunk driving head-on crash in Lafourche Parish. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx” 

The Louisiana National Guard has been activated to provide support with the wildfires in Beauregard Parish. 97 soldiers are assisting, and LANG helicopter crews are dropping gallons of water in the affected areas.  Additional aircraft from Oklahoma are also assisting with the wildfires.

Wildfires that erupted in Vernon Parish Thursday have since been contained and an arrest has been made in connection with one of the fires.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Firefighters are having trouble containing wildfires in Beauregard Parish. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Shannon Burgess…
cut 9 (08) “…50-percent”
But a wind shift kept the Tiger Island Fire from causing extensive damage to the town of Merryville.

New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest today in Slidell, more than 80 years after his life ended in the attack on Pearl Harbor. His cousin Denise Bennett says the Navy is paying for Thompsons burial and the family chose to have him buried at the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery. Bennett says it’s just another example of how the military leaves no man behind…
cut 12 (07) “…to family”
Thompson was a cook on the USS Oklahoma.

The Saints are mourning the death of former defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell. He was 78 and helped develop the great line backing group of the 1980’s and 90’s known as the Dome Patrol, with Rickey Jackson, Pat Swilling, Sam Mills, and Vaughn Johnson. The coordinator was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2004.

The Saints defense has been led by Coach Dennis Allen since linebacker Demario Davis arrived in New Orleans in 2018. Allen was the defensive coordinator for the team until last year when he became the head coach, and Davis says the defense’s success starts with Allen.

Cut 20 (13) “…game situation.”

Last year the Saints defense was 5th in yards allowed and in sacks, and will once again be led by Davis. The Saints third and final preseason game is this Sunday at 7 p.m. against the Texans and their first regular season game is on Sept. 10 against the Titans.

The wait is almost over for Louisiana Tech football to take the field for their first game of 2023 season. La Tech takes on Conference USA rival Florida International tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Ruston. Last year’s La Tech offense finished middle of the road in the Conference USA in total yards, and second year coach Sonny Cumbie says how graduate transfer quarterback Hank Bachmeier and him have been able to stay on the same page to put them over the top.

Cut 17 (18) “…comfort with it.”

Off the football field, La Tech was set to unveil the A-L Williams Champions Plaza tonight, but the schools says of the six statues has not made it to Ruston.

The Ragin Cajun athletic programs have agreed to contract extensions with their men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin and softball coach Gerry Glasco. Both coaches led their teams to Sun Belt tournament championships in 2022.

Multiple wildfires are taking place throughout the state. State officials are urging the public to follow the statewide burn ban. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says violators could face jail time, fines and could be forced to pay restitution for loss of property…
cut 28 (13) “…property and life

An arrest has been made in connection to one of the wildfires that erupted near Rosepine in Vernon Parish yesterday. Sheriff Sam Craft says Paul Nash faces two felony arson charges for violating the state’s burn ban. Craft says Nash lit a brush pile in his backyard on fire and it quickly spread…
Cut 6 (08) “…massively.”

In Beauregard Parish, the town of Merryville is under a mandatory evacuation, a shift in the winds last night has spared the town of one-thousand people.

A jury needed only six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict against 39-year-old Joey Clement of Thibodaux for killing three teenagers in a fatal crash in 2021. Assistant District Attorney Shaun George says Clement was speeding and driving under the influence…
Cut 3 (09) “…whole night”
Clement crashed his Ford F-150 into their SUV head-on on Highway 20 north of Thibodaux.

At the Southeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery in Slidell today, New Orleans native Clarence Thompson will be laid to rest. Thompson worked as a cook on the USS Oklahoma when it was destroyed during the attack on Pearl Harbor…
cut 11 (06) “…in coming”
That’s Thompson’s cousin Denise Bennett. Thompson’s return home is part of the Navy’s Project Oklahoma which has identified the remains of 355 sailors since 2015 through DNA.

Insurance Commissioner-elect Tim Temple says he’s not wasting any time since he became the lone candidate and he’s already getting a head start on the job. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Fire crews are working to contain a blaze at the Marathon Oil refinery on Airline Highway in Garyville. Officials say that the release and the fire are contained within the refinery’s property. No injuries are reported. It is unknown what led to the chemical release and fire.

State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says anyone who starts a fire will be held liable. Under the state burn ban, the public should not throw cigarettes out of a car window, use barbecue grills to cook outside, or burn debris. Strain says burning small debris fires could be extremely dangerous.

Cut 8 (11) “…of life.”

Violators could face a fine or jail time.

Extremely dry conditions have placed 50 percent of the state is currently in extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In extreme drought, trees are stressed, saltwater intrudes into rivers and water pressure is low. State climatologist Barry Keim says southwestern Louisiana is the driest part of the state.

Cut 14 (10) “…drought class.” 

The southern parts of the state were abnormally dry but were not in a drought this same week last year.