Tiger Island Fire Could Be Louisiana’s Largest Wildfire, City-Wide Evacuation Order Lifted

As the 'largest wildfire ever recorded' in Louisiana continues to rage, evacuations in certain parts of the state are starting to lift.

The state has been plagued with wildfires due to record-breaking heat and extreme drought. The Tiger Island Fire burning in Beauregard Parish spread and doubled over the weekend, with state fire officials reporting on Sunday that the fire expanded to cover 33,000 acres.

"When speaking with the Governor and the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, they have checked back in the records, and as far as they can find, this is the largest wildfire ever recorded in the history of the State of Louisiana," Tiger Island Sheriff Mark Herford said. "It’s an unprecedented act."

The wildfire's containment remains at only 50%, and at least one person has been killed, according to CBS News. Evacuations have been ordered in the areas affected by the fires, though some evacuations have been called off as the firefighters have made progress.

The mandatory evacuation order for the city limits of Merryville has been lifted, along with the Bancroft community and Vernon Parish.  However, the areas north of Merryville and residents in the Singer area remain under the evacuation order, per KPLC TV.