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Burn bans expand to 18 parishes

As of Wednesday, Oct. 16, 18 Louisiana parishes have established burn bans and teh National Weather Service officein Lake Charles has issued a Red Flag Warning for all parishes in Central and South Louisiana.

Weeks of mostly dry weather in much of the state has left with fire ratings of High (two districts) or Very High four districts), according to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry.

State Climatologies Jay Grymes issued a statement that this week's cold front didn't just drop temperatures but also dropped the humidity levels.

"The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor for Louisiana (effective 8 October) already shows dry-to-drought conditions for much of the state," according to Grymes statement released through Louisiana Farm Bureau News. "Ongoing preliminary assessment through 15 October (not yet released) will show an increase in the drought coverage across much of the state with the drought expanding with the exception of the southeastern parishes."

Parishes with burn bans as of Oct. 16 include:

• Allen

• Acadia

• Bossier

• Caddo

• Caldwell

• DeSoto

• East Feliciana

• Evangeline

• Jefferson Davis

• Morehouse

• Natchitoches