Due to the extremely dry conditions within the state, State Fire Marshal, H. Butch Browning and, Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner, Mike Strain issued a cease and desist order Nov. 5, until further notice, for all private burning. Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government.

Natchitoches Parish Fire District 7 responded to Hwy. 120 on Sunday, Nov. 6 for an unattended grass fire that had gotten out of control.

Natchitoches Parish Fire District 4 and 1, Kisatchie National Forest personnel, and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a woods fire Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Intersection of Long Leaf Trail and the Bayou Camp Rd. The fire was less than 5 acres in size. NPFD 4 also responded to a woods fire off the CCC road earlier in the afternoon, utilizing the help of Louisiana State Forestry dozer crew.

Fire crews ask citizens to remember things are getting dryer by the day, so don’t start fires and dispose of cigarettes properly.

The statewide burn ban order doesn’t include the following parishes: Bossier, Iberville, St. Landry, St. Mary.

This ban shall not apply to prescribed burns by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, by those trained and certified by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or by those who conduct prescribed burning as a “generally accepted agriculture practice.”
Violation of this Fire Marshal order could result in criminal and/or civil penalties.

Natchitoches Parish IS under a burn ban.