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With the escalating risk of wildfires across Louisiana, the state has enacted a more stringent burn ban, eliminating exceptions previously granted to local authorities. This decision follows a wildfire surge due to dry weather conditions and high temperatures.

The initial burn ban, put in place on August 7th, has been revoked and reissued with stricter provisions. The updated order, effective as of August 25, 2023, at noon, was a joint announcement from State Fire Marshal Dan Wallis and Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Under this directive, all private burning is prohibited, without exceptions, by the authority cited in R.S. 40:1602. This ban remains in effect until further notice.

This revised burn ban also aligns with an additional directive from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry that extends the restrictions to include all forms of agricultural burning, including activities such as prescribed burns.

Throughout Louisiana, exceedingly dry conditions persist, contributing to the ongoing wildfires. High temperatures further exacerbated these fires, making containment efforts even more challenging. Unfortunately, weather forecasts offer limited respite, with significant rainfall still absent from predictions.