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.

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.

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)