Despite recent rains, city still enforcing burn ban

Despite consistent rainfall through the last few days of June and up to 1 inch over the first five days of July, Bogalusa Fire Chief Richard Moody said Tuesday night that a burn ban remains in effect.

A firefighter knocks down a fire during a
drill. (Photo BFD web page)

"It is a statewide ban and it is my understanding I have the authority to lift it," Moody explained to the Bogalusa City Council as part of his monthly department head report, "but I choose not to do that. I know we've had some rain, but I 'm waiting for a good, general soaking. It's still very dry."

Slightly more than one-half inch was recorded Saturday on Military Road and again Tuesday, starting with rolling thunder as a line of thunderstorms moved from Mississippi and across the region.

Moody said June, which typically signifies the start of a slower season for firefighters, was actually busier than usual.

"We had 92 runs," he recounted, breaking them down as four fires, one vehicle fire, two grass fires, 41 medical assist runs and 14 false alarms.

Moody had earlier told wpnewsblog about a person who had ignored the burn ban, had their fire get out of control and almost lost their home in the process.

"They lost an outbuilding, and almost lost their house. When it's dry, it can get away in a hurry."

Moody said an advantage residents living under the jurisdiction of the Bogalusa Fire Department have is a relatively quick response time.

"We can generally get their pretty fast," he said. "The rural districts, where they sometimes have so far to drive, are unable to do that."

Despite the ban's still being in effect, Bogalusa and Washington Parish did not go so far as some locales, where both the sale and use of fireworks was prohibited.

The cities of Shreveport and Bossier City banned fireworks sales, and extended into Bossier Parish. Additionally, Lafourche Parish also banned the sale and use of fireworks.

Moody reminded that with the burn ban still in effect, there is no legal burning option and that a complaint can result in civil penalties.