Seven people were indicted this week in a years long arson-related insurance fraud scheme involving fires set intentionally in Monroe, Louisiana.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Louisiana alleges that between 2019-2026, the defendants rented homes, obtained homeowners insurance policies, and then caused approximately 13 fires at those residences.
The defendants allegedly submitted false insurance claims seeking payments for fabricated personal property losses and extended stay hotel reimbursements.
It is further alleged that the defendants submitted fraudulent relief claims with a national humanitarian organization for which they received cash payments under false pretenses.
“The audacity, the recklessness, and the greed of these defendants to allegedly turn fire setting into a for-profit operation is staggering,” said U.S Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The conspirators charged here fed their greed by putting innocent lives at risk, including those of first responders, and destroyed the hard earned property of others while contributing to higher insurance costs for us all.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, Louisiana State Fire Marshal, the Monroe Fire Department, and the Louisiana State Police.
Firefighters on the ground can’t break through the intense heat in some hotspots. Helicopters are trying to help by dropping buckets of water on burning trees and logs. The reburn potential from scorched timber and strong southeasterly winds remain a concern, according to a Sept. 8 update from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Last week the region expected to get some rain and slightly cooler temperatures due to Tropical Storm Edouard. The storm brought temperatures down to the 90s and increased humidity in the area, helping firefighters to increase the fire’s contained area from 38% to 57%. Containment refers to the portion of the fire’s perimeter where firefighters have established a line or barrier aimed at stopping the fire from spreading.
“The fire is estimated at 90,000 acres so there are going to be portions that may see rain, portions that may not see rain,” said Laura Stevens, a public information officer with the Texas A&M Forest Service last week. “It is an ongoing operation, very dynamic, very changing as the weather comes in.”
The Forest Service and local law enforcement agencies determined that the fire originated along a road and was sparked by equipment or a vehicle, although the specific source couldn’t be determined.
At a press Sept. 3 conference, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said he expected it to take up to two more weeks to fully extinguish the fire.
Gov. Greg Abbott promised residents the state would help them rebuild when it was safe to do so and urged people to follow local officials’ guidance about when they can safely check their businesses or homes.
“To all families out there affected or maybe not yet affected, our core message remains: protect your life,” Abbott said. “Don’t drive into (the fire). Don’t drive near it. I know you may be wanting to get back to your home right now but that could be very dangerous.”
