Arson fires have been burning acres of the Kisatchie National Forest, and authorities are asking the public for help in finding the culprits.
During March, firefighters have responded to around 10 wildfires within different districts of the Kisatchie National Forest, which cover 600,000 acres across seven parishes. On Tuesday, Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain said five of those fires have been in his parish.
Read MoreA Louisiana woman accused of setting fires told investigators she and her boyfriend were trying to get rid of snakes, the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry says.
Robert Lee Ramirez, 34, of Leesville (map), faces two counts of arson and remained at large Tuesday, department spokesman Veronica Mosgrove said in an email.
Read MoreMultiple wildfires have occurred in Grant Parish this month which have caused damage to properties and even threatened some homes.
Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain said over the last 18 days, five separate wildfires have affected the parish.
Read MoreForestry professionals attending the online LSU AgCenter 2021 Forestry Forum on Tuesday heard presentations about a wide range of topics, including estate and tax law, the basics of prescribed burns, controlling a pervasive wild plant, possible tax increases, forestry economics and selling timber.
Video presentations from the sessions will be available later for participants who registered for the events.
Read MoreLouisiana's timberlands remain littered with trees that Hurricane Laura either snapped like toothpicks or yanked out of the ground by their roots as easily as a gardener pulling weeds, wiping out $1.5 billion in timber sales in the state's largest agricultural sector.
Read MoreLouisiana forestry’s $1.5 billion in losses from hurricanes was double the amount of revenue the industry generates annually, according to an LSU AgCenter forestry expert.
Speaking recently (March 10) at the 2021 Virtual Forestry Forum, Michael Blazier, LSU AgCenter forestry specialist, said the damages would be more if lost revenue, infrastructure damage and lost production during the storms are considered.
Blazier said Hurricane Laura that hit on Aug. 27 inflicted damage to 800,000 acres of timber in 22 parishes, with the worst in Vernon Parish. The resulting loss in saw timber, about 3 million board feet, could have supplied 25 sawmills for a year, he said.
Read MoreLouisiana forestry’s $1.5 billion in losses from hurricanes last year was double the amount of revenue the industry generates annually, according to an LSU AgCenter forestry expert.
Michael Blazier, LSU AgCenter forestry specialist, said the damage would be more if lost revenue, infrastructure damage and lost production during the storms are considered.
Read MoreOne hundred acres of trees felled by last fall’s hurricanes burned Monday at Sam Houston Jones State Park when a controlled burn jumped out of control.
Numerous Moss Bluff residents reported seeing flames and heavy smoke in the area.
Read MoreThe Forest Service says that a wildfire broke out Monday night near Melder just west of Forest Hill.
They say the wildfire was burning in an area with known unexploded ordnance from WWII in the Kisatchie National Forest, which kept firefighters from utilizing dozers or other heavy equipment to plow a control line.
Read MoreMost of the nation is facing unusually cold weather, as a winter storm moved coast-to-coast over the weekend. Winter storms create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers, especially for those raising livestock, row crops and vulnerable crops like citrus.
Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. USDA offers several programs to help with recovery.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter state forestry extension team will host two virtual forums this year with two themes and held on two dates.
The first forum, set for March 9, will focus on hurricane recovery, while the second event on March 23 will cover forest management and tax advice. Both events will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Read MoreLouisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Mike Strain, D.V.M., is urging all agricultural producers impacted by the severe winter weather to document losses.
“While no secretarial disaster designation has been declared at this time, an accurate account of any crops and livestock that are lost is vital in the event insurance claims are necessary or federal assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made available,” said Strain.
Read MoreA prescribed burning workshop to teach and certify forest landowners to burn their own lands safely and legally will be held May 5-7 at the Louisiana Ecological Forestry Center (formerly Hodges Gardens) in Florien.
Read MoreMichael Bonin retired as principal from Iberia Middle School in 2013, and at that time he wanted to find something to do to fill his time and maybe supplement his income. What he fell into was something far beyond his wildest imagination.
Read MoreLouisiana State University has accepting applications for an assistant/associate professor for forestry economics, according to the university.
The position was previously held by Dr. Shaun Tanger, who accepted a new job in Mississippi last year.
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