Lafayette Fire Department is encouraging residents of the parish to adhere to the statewide burn ban placed by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal last week.
Marshal H. “Butch” Browning, in collaboration with Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, issued the cease and desist order on private burning that took effect on Wednesday, March 25.
Since the burn ban has been in place, Lafayette parish firefighters have responded to more than 20 complaints of residents burning trash. Fire departments are deploying resources to these unauthorized burnings when they could be used elsewhere.
Although the State Fire Marshal’s order give local fire departments and governments discretion, Lafayette Consolidated Government’s ordinance prohibits the disposal of solid waste by burning in the city and unincorporated areas of the parish at any time, so private burning is a double violation.
The Fire Department is asking residents to dispose of the yard waste and bulky items at curbside.
