LACOMBE - Earlier this week, a wildfire tore through parts of Lacombe's Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.

On Wednesday evening, a representative of the Refuge told WBRZ the fire had been "mostly contained" and "was an estimate of 12 acres."

The representative also said U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service staff have been monitoring the area to ensure the fire's containment and the safety of the Refuge's neighbors.

The Refuge, established in 1994, is a 15,000-acre area rich in wildlife and in features typical of the Lake Pontchartrain coastline, such as pine flatwoods, oak rides, and coastal marsh.   

Click here for more information on the area.