An arrest has been made in connection to one of the wildfires in Vernon Parish that sparked Thursday in southwest Louisiana.
Sheriff Sam Craft said Paul Nash faces two felony arson charges and violation of the state burn ban. Craft said Nash lit fire to a brush pile in his backyard just outside of Rosepine, and it quickly spread.
“Burnt his neighbor’s house, a deputy had to rescue that lady from her home, when he arrived on the scene. Then the fire just spread massively,” said Craft.
Those fires and others in Vernon Parish have been contained but Craft said that could change in an instant with the extended drought and scorching temperatures.
“It is past critical, and nobody can so much as even throw a cigarette out. It’s that critical,” said Craft.
There have been reports of individuals claiming they didn’t know the statewide burn ban was in effect. Craft said that’s no excuse.
“I don’t care if somebody’s aware of the burn ban or not. When it’s this dry good common sense tells you, you better not even strike a match outside,” said Craft.
