Northwest Louisiana implements burn bans due to drought

Fire officials in northwest Louisiana have implemented burn bans across several parishes, including Caddo and Bossier, due to dangerous fire weather conditions and low rainfall. The Louisiana Department of Forestry has issued bans for a large portion of the state as the landscape becomes highly combustible.

The restrictions prohibit all private open burning, such as trash disposal, brush piles, leaves, bonfires, and recreational campfires. Exceptions are only made for approved agricultural or prescribed farming burns certified by the state.

The drought is attributed to a significant lack of rain during late summer. While July saw 11 inches of rainfall in the Shreveport area, August and September recorded only 0.75 inches and 0.86 inches, respectively. Officials noted that recent brief showers have not been sufficient to alleviate the drought conditions.