Statewide burn ban lifted, parish drought in severe stage

After stretching nearly a month longer than anticipated, State Fire Marshall Butch Browning and Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain have lifted the statewide burn ban.

Butch Browning

The ban went into effect on June 1 and it was hoped that it could have been lifted by the end of the month if the rains came. They didn’t, though, and the ban remained until enough rain fell statewide for the lifting.

Local burn bans remain in Bossier and Caddo parishes in extreme northwest Louisiana.

Strain said despite the lifting of the burn ban, the state remains in a drought state, ranging from severe to extreme. Washington, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes are in a severe drought state.

Despite heavy rains over Washington Parish during the latter half of the month, neither Bogalusa Fire Chief Richard Moody or Washington Parish Homeland Security Director Tommy Thiebaud were willing to lift the ban in advance of the state.

“It is my understanding we have the authority to do that, based on local conditions,” Moody told wpnewsblog earlier in the month, “but despite the rain it is still really dry and I’m simply not comfortable lifting it.”

Thiebaud said every shower and rain helps, but that until the state fire marshal lifted the ban, it would remain in effect in the parish.

“We can get to calls pretty quick,” Moody said, “but the firefighters in the parish sometimes have to drive a pretty good distance to get to the fire … so just because it seems safe in one place doesn’t mean it is in another.”

There have been nine days with measurable precipitation in Northeast Bogalusa and three days when a trace was recorded. The monthly total in Northeast Bogalusa through noon today (July 28) is 7.05 inches.

A chance of precipitation is forecast through mid-week next week, but the best chance for rain is later today when it is 80 percent.

Despite above-average rainfall, burn ban remains

Saturday’s late morning rain pushed at least northeast Bogalusa past the July monthly average. According to U. S. Climate Data, the July average for Bogalusa is 5.67 inches.

The rain started as a light shower about 10:45 a.m., but wound up as a full-fledged deluge before the morning was over.

By the time Saturday’s rainfall ended, 1.8 inches was in the rain gauge and 6.7 inches in the catch basin for the year. Then, on Sunday, about .25 inch fell, pushing the monthly total to 6.95 inches.

Thus far in northeast Bogalusa, there have been eight days in July with measurable precipitation and two days when a trace was recorded.

Despite the rainfall, which has been reported parish-wide, a burn ban remains in effect.

Because of the depth of the drought in the area, neither Washington Parish Homeland Security Director Tommy Thiebaud nor Bogalusa Fire Department Chief Richard Moody is willing to lift the burn ban.

“It’s just been too dry,” Moody said. “It may seem wet, but a fire can get out of control in a split second.”

Thiebaud said every shower and rain helps, but that until the state fire marshal lifts the ban, it will remain in effect in the parish.

“We can get to calls pretty quick,” Moody said, “but the firefighters in the parish sometimes have to drive a pretty good distance to get to the fire … so just because it seems safe in one place doesn’t mean it is in another.”

The National Weather Service forecast for the remainder of the week calls for a wetter than normal pattern with numerous occurrences of showers and thunderstorms expected, especially during daytime hours.

Locally heavy rainfall will remain a threat, although severe weather is not expected.

Landfill not only council action taken

While discussion of the operation of the Choctaw Road Landfill dominated Monday night's meeting of the Washington Parish Council, it wasn't the only item up for consideration.

Council approved Ordinance No. 11-551, which will help parish officials move towards their goal of providing broadband wireless technology parish-wide.

Dempsey Parden, parish IT director, explained that the lease for space on a tower owned by Broadband IP, Inc. will allow for the continued expansion of internet service in the parish.

"We hope to cover all of Washington Parish within 12 to 18 months," he said, explaining that in a survey of residents, 39 percent said they would consider moving their service to another provider."

Parden said the parish effort can also be tied to economic development, because while having broadband might not help attract a business to the parish, not having broadband can keep the parish out of consideration.

"We're finding more and more that businesses have to have broadband to operate," Parden said.

In other action, council members approved Resolution No. 11-522, which allows for entering into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Washington Parish Communication District concerning a 400-foot communications tower being built on Dollar Road.

Homeland Security Director Tommy Thiebaud said communications was identified as a major issue during Hurricane Katrina.

"Communications was one of our biggest problems," he said, adding, "We identified that as we reviewed the issues surrounding the storm and it came out as one of our top priorities."

Grant funding is available for all but $130,000 and Thiebaud said that once the tower is constructed and paid for, Homeland Security will turn it over the the 911 District.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Parish council deals with busy agenda

Tommy Thiebaud, parish
director of Homeland Security,
explains the need for a burn ban.
(John H. Walker photo)

FRANKLINTON — Members of the Washington Parish Council methodically worked their way through a busy agenda here Monday night.

By the time council members were finished, they had held three public hearings — without any public input — introduced four ordinances and three resolutions.

Most prominent was an emergency, 30-day burn ban (see top right column) implemented parishwide. Council members also held a public hearing and approved Ordinance No. 11-546, which keeps the parish tax levy at 28.42 mills, the same as last year.

Additionally, Resolution No. 11-549, which will allow Parish President Richard Thomas to enter into an agreement with Landworks, Inc. for the operation of the Choctaw Road Landfill.

After the meeting, Thomas told wpnewsblog he was comfortable with the process undertaken to advertise for and review proposals for the operation of the landfill.

"We held three public meetings where people could attend and ask questions,” he explained. "These proposals were reviewed and it was a studied decision ... it wasn't done like it was in the past,” he said.

A public hearing and vote will be held on the resolution when the council next meets on June 6.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogger.com)