Wildfire Threat High as Burn Bans Spread Across Louisiana
By Jay Grymes
Louisiana State Climatologist
As of 2:00 PM Wednesday (Feb 25), at least 22 parishes have issued Burn Bans. Note that the Parish Fire Danger assessments have most of the state posted as "High" to "Extreme" (coastal parishes are not routinely assessed for Fire Danger).
It appears as though the LDAF's Office of Forestry (OF) has tracked more than 170 fires across Louisiana thus far during the month of February, including 70 just in the most recent 3 days (Feb 22-24). It is my understanding that these numbers only include fires for which the OF has responded ... and does not include smaller fires that are handled by local community fire departments.
A prolonged run of below-normal rainfall (extending back into October for numerous parishes), along with recent windy conditions and low humidities the past few days, have enhanced our moisture shortages and created the drought situation that is likely to continue for the next month or two, at least. The dryness along with the windy conditions prompted NWS offices to take the unusual steps of issuing Red Flag Warnings earlier this week.
The LA Drought Team has proposed that the national author(s) of the upcoming U.S. Drought Monitor increase the coverage of all three drought categories (D1 - Moderate Drought, D2 - Severe Drought, & D3 - Extreme Drought) in Louisiana. The update will be released on Thursday morning.
A Red Flag Warning and Wind Advisory are in effect as more than three dozen wildfires ignited across Louisiana over the weekend, fueled by drought conditions and strong winds.
Here is a list of parishes that have issued burn bans. The list will be updated as more are added, or existing bans are lifted.
Parishes Under a Burn Ban
Allen
Avoyelles
Beauregard
Bossier
Caddo
Calcasieu
DeSoto
Jeff Davis
Rapides
Red River
Sabine
St. Helena
St. Landry
St. Martin
Tangipahoa
Vernon
Washington
Webster
Winn
Vermilion
Burn bans prohibit any outdoor burning or activity involving an open flame that produces embers. They do not apply to burns prescribed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, by those trained and certified by the Louisiana 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.
See a map of Louisiana parishes under a burn ban here.