WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - Firefighting efforts at a large marsh fire and oil cleanup operations were suspended in south Louisiana and the Gulf today because of the approaching tropical depression.

Governor Bobby Jindal said today that the National Guard and Coast Guard had stopped their work because of the threat from strong winds and rain.

He said the rain is expected to help dissipate the marsh fire's smoke which has been billowing across south Louisiana for several days, prompting air quailty alerts in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Since earlier this week the National Guard has dumped more than a million gallons of water from helicopters onto the marsh fire outside of New Orleans.

Jindal said the Department of Environmental Quality would continue to monitor air quailty around the state, and could issue more alerts if needed.