Multiple small towns in Louisiana evacuate as wildfires break out

Multiple southwestern towns in Louisiana have had to evacuate due to hundreds of wildfires sweeping the area, according to CNN.

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry spokesperson Jennifer Finely told the outlet that at least 8,385.73 acres have burned from August 1 to August 25.

As of Friday evening, there were at least six fires burning in Livingston, Sabine, Vernon and Beauregard Parishes.

Louisiana Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards has met with local officials to access the situation.

“Nobody alive in Louisiana has ever seen these conditions,” he said during a press conference. “It’s never been this hot, this dry, for this long.”

“To have these fires burning the way they are and jumping fire lines, and when the wind picks up to have the fires burning in the crowns of trees rather than on the ground and low where they can be more easily contained, makes for a very difficult and dangerous situation,” Bel Edwards continued.

He announced that the national guard has been brought in to assist with combatting flames. 

Edwards also added that 161,000 gallons have been dropped on the affected areas and as of now, there are no fatalities.