Strong winds drive 200-acre fire, endangering Pearl River area

PEARL RIVER, La. (WGNO) — St. Tammany fire units contained a large woods fire that spread to Chris Kennedy Road in Pearl River, according to the St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 11.

The fire initially started near West Thorner Road.

It didn’t start off large, but a sudden change in the wind turned what could have been a simple fire into a near life-threatening situation for Pearl River residents.

At around one o’clock, St. Tammany fire departments received the first calls.

While the fire started off small, the winds grew, blowing it towards homes near Chris Kennedy Road.

“They were able to relocate ahead of it, and they realized it was getting way too far ahead of them. At that point we had to call in additional resources. We requested several different fire departments from the parish to get control of it,” St. Tammany Fire Department Captain Mitchell Geissler said.

The fire grew to more than 200 acres, getting as close as 150 yards to some houses, according to homeowners.

Many were left unable to get back home and without answers until the situation was resolved.

“We’re sitting in a church parking lot with kids small kids dogs you know children here who are in high school that it affects them and we have no clue,” resident Rebecca Noullet said.

As they waited, they worried about losing their homes.

“We have no insurance for our house. We couldn’t afford that. And our mortgage so we’d let that go. I have four kids that I’m raising. It’s gonna suck,” resident Sarah Barnes said.

Thankfully, first responders continued to work and managed to keep the fire from reaching anyone’s property.

“It’s great to hear that there’s not a threat to life or property and I hope that continues and I’m confident in the fire districts. There’s four fire districts on this. There’s the state on this so I’m confident they’ll be able to resolve it,” St. Tammany Parish Councilman David Cougle said.

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