re: Wildfires in Louisiana

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Sheriff Sam Craft announces the Thursday, August 25th, arrest of Paul Nash, age 59, of Rosepine.

The arrest is the result of a large woods fire in the Providence area which resulted in the loss of two mobile homes, an undetermined amount of timber acreage, and the mandatory evacuation of the area.

At approximately 3:45 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint in the Providence area, regarding an individual illegally burning in violation of the state wide burn ban.

Upon arrival at the residence located on B. Johnson Road, Deputies observed a trash pile burning in a yard at the location.

The fire had already gotten out of control and had spread into a heavily wooded area near several residences.

The burn pile was located in the yard of the residence of Paul Nash.

VPSO Deputies and Detectives, Fire Department Personnel, and Forestry Service Personnel responded to the area where the fire was out of control.

Deputy Tyler Sandell was able to assist a female and her animals out of one of the mobile homes which was quickly becoming engulfed by the fire. We commend Deputy Sandell for his selfless service and bravery during this dangerous situation.

Witnesses identified Paul Nash as the person responsible for the starting the fire.

Nash was taken into custody at the scene and charged with one count of Illegal burning in violation of a burn ban, one count of Fire raising on lands of another by criminal negligence, and one count of Negligent Arson. Bond has been set at $ 13,000.00. Nash remains in the VPSO jail.

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