CEASE AND DESIST ORDER
Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak of the respiratory disease, coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
WHEREAS, effective March 25, 2020 at 8:00 a.m., to assist in preventing potential fire-related dangers during this state of emergency and to diminish any airborne irritants caused by burning, the State Fire Marshal ordered a statewide cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to his authority under R.S. 40:1602 with private burning only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government;
WHEREAS, the cease and desist order does 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” as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law;
WHEREAS, a severe thunderstorm moved through Vernon Parish on April 19, 2020, bringing with it heavy rainfall and high wind gusts resulting in downed trees, debris (which includes, vegetation, limbs, and fallen trees), and other damage;
NOW THEREFORE, I, H. “BUTCH” BROWNING, Fire Marshal of the State of Louisiana, by the authority of Louisiana R.S. 40:1602, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: The March 25, 2020 statewide cease and desist order for all private burning, pursuant to his authority under R.S. 40:1602, with private burning only be allowed by permission of the local fire department or local government, is modified to allow for the burning of debris resulting from the April 19, 2020 thunderstorms and wind gusts unless prohibited by the local governing authority. This modification is limited to Vernon Parish.
This order is effective April 20, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. and shall remain in effect until April 30, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.
Well I think this is just a pile of crap and what the Sam hell does it have to do with the virus
Irritants in the smoke can exacerbate chronic lung conditions. If Covid-19 is contracted on top of that, you get a much worse health outcome.
We live in Natchitoches parish, outside the city limits and have accumulated a large burn pile of limbs and brush since the burn ban. Due to its size, I cannot afford to have it hauled off Because of the knee-jerk one size fits all proclamation by the State fire marshal’s office to ban all burning statewide, the burn pile has progressed to the size of being a potential fire hazard and a place for vermin and snakes to make home. I have always observed my burning from start to finish, and keep a ready supply of water to tamp it down if required. If Vernon Parish can have their ban lifted, why can other Parishes with the same issues have theirs lifted?
I completely agree with you. Why only Vernon Parish? I live outside of Pineville, surrounded by my woods, the ground is soaked with water, water standing where it has not dried up in weeks, or more. My brush pile is not nearly the size of yours but I do want to dispose of it by burning in place, it makes no sense to have to haul it off to a landfill. I, too, never leave a fire untended, and practice safe burning. Smoke would be of no consequence due to the distance between me and all the neighbors.