Will Other Louisiana Parishes Follow DeSoto In Issuing Burn Bans

Late yesterday it happened. The inevitable came to fruition, but residents would be kidding themselves if they didn't feel it coming.

Get our free mobile app

DeSoto Parish became the first in Louisiana to issue a burn ban due to the dry conditions and extreme heat.

In a post Monday, July 27, on Facebook, the DeSoto Parish Police Jury broke the news of the latest burn ban to be issued for the entirety of the parish.

In a Burn Ban Map provided by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, we note that DeSoto Parish is presently the only place in Louisiana where outdoor burning has been banned, but conditions are certainly favorable for additional parishes to follow suit in the very near future.

READ MORE: Clear-Smithport Lake Begins Annual Drawdown Monday, August 3

In their notification on Facebook, DeSoto Parish Administrator, Michael Norton, writes, "Once conditions improve the Police Jury and local fire chiefs will reassess and advise accordingly. Thank you and God Bless."

In an article on the matter from KTBS, we learn this DeSoto Parish Burn Ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including burning trash, leaves, limbs and yard debris. Not included are prescribed burns conducted by the state Department of Agriculture and Forestry, barbecue grills and cooking fires contained within fireproof containers and any other exceptions approved by the parish fire districts.

And while DeSoto Parish has implemented the sole Burn Ban in Louisiana, last week the Caddo Parish Fire Chiefs Association asked residents to voluntarily refrain from outdoor burning while daytime temperatures exceed 100 degrees, so, unless conditions see drastic improvement in the coming days, one could suspect that additional burn bans are inevitable.

However, the National Weather Service in Shreveport has called for more "oppressive heat" across the area again today and issued a "Heat Advisory" through 8:00 pm, so it would seem unlikely for weather conditions to see that much needed improvement.

The Weather Channel's 10-Day forecast is presently indicating an approximate 30% chance for rain on Thursday, July 30, but it's not likely we'll see enough precipitation in the area to bring much relief, and the chances for additional rain beyond that aren't looking good, so indeed, the entire Arklatex area should brace for additional burn bans in the very near future.