Burn ban lifted

Sept. 17

UPDATE: Louisiana State Fire Marshal H. Butch Browning has lifted the burn ban for Allen, Beauregard, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Union, Vernon and Winn parishes.

The ban, however, continues for Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.

"To assist in preventing potential fire-related dangers during this state of emergency and to assist local first responders by reducing unnecessary fire calls that will be challenged to answer due to a lack of infrastructure, resources and personnel due to the effects of and response to Hurricane Laura, the State Fire Marshal hereby orders a continued cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to his authority under R.S. 40:1602for the parishes of Calcasieu and Cameron. Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government," according to a press release from Browning's office.

Sep. 10, 2020

Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., said a multi-parish burn ban issued after Hurricane Laura remains in effect.

“I’d like to remind everyone that a burn ban is still in place. Between dry conditions, areas that are still struggling to get water systems up and running again and rural fire departments in which resources are already stretched, it is important that citizens abide by the burn ban restrictions,” said Strain. “What we do not need are people burning piles of debris and those fires getting out of control with limited resources to put out those fires.”

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is currently working with the timber industry to establish damage assessments post Hurricane Laura. Timber is the largest commodity in the state valued at approximately $3.5 billion.

At the end of August, Strain and State Fire Marshal H. Butch Browning issued a cease and desists order for all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602, for the following parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Union, Vernon and Winn.  

The ban does not apply to prescribed burns by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), by those trained and certified by the LDAF, or by those who conduct prescribed burning as a “generally accepted agriculture practice” as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law (R.S. 3:3601 et seq.).