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Fire Marshal: Burn ban still in effect

Posted at 2:50 PM, Jul 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-14 15:50:43-04

The State FIre Marshal is reminding people that there is a statewide burn ban in effect.

Despite saturated grounds and a diminishing wind threat for some parts of the state, the statewide burn ban put into effect ahead of the arrival of Barry remains in effect, officials say. This measure will stay in place to assist in preventing potential fire-related dangers while many first responders are addressing post-storm related needs in their communities.

“We don’t want people trying to be proactive about burning trash and debris just yet because that does spread; it can cause buildings to catch on fire, it can cause wildlands to catch on fire and then cause unnecessary responses,“ said State Fire Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, “The last thing first responders have time for right now is emergencies that could have been prevented.”

The statewide cease and desist order issued by Browning, along with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, applies to all private burning, pursuant to authority under R.S. 40:1602. Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government. This order went into effective at 10:00 a.m. on July 12, 2019 and shall remain in effect until rescinded. There is no timeline for lifting the ban at this time.

This ban shall not apply to prescribed burns by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, by those trained and certified by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 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.).

Violation of this Fire Marshal order could result in criminal and/or civil penalties.