A burn ban is now in effect across Webster Parish due to drought conditions, very high fire danger, and extreme temperatures and heat indices.
Webster Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director and Minden Fire Chief Brian Williams announced Monday that the ban was issued upon the recommendation of the Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association. The ban is effective immediately and will remain in effect until further notice.
“The current drought conditions, Very High Fire Danger, and extreme temperatures and heat indices a burn ban have created dangerous fire conditions for our parish,” Williams said.
The burn ban comes as the area faces a prolonged period of extreme heat, with temperatures forecast to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the next nine days.
Webster Parish Police Jury President Jim Bonsall also issued a state of emergency Monday, citing a lack of rainfall and extreme heat conditions that have created dangerous fire conditions throughout the parish.
The declaration states the Webster Parish Fire Chiefs Association determined there is a “very definite threat possibility” to the lives and property of parish residents, as well as to first responders.
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including campfires, trash fires, and other open burning.
The declaration does not apply to prescribed burns conducted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
The state of emergency also activates the parish Emergency Preparedness/All Hazards Emergency Operations Plan and will remain in effect until conditions improve.
Residents with questions about the burn ban may contact the Webster Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.