What happens if you violate the burn ban in Bossier Parish Sheriff explains
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
As of Aug. 17, there have been 260 wildfires in Louisiana, destroying thousands of acres of land and property following extreme heat conditions. On Aug. 18, Gov. John Bel Edwards encouraged Louisiana citizens to adhere to the statewide burn ban as drought conditions continue to affect Louisiana.
“Everyone should take these dangerously high temperatures seriously," Edwards said in press release. "Our state is experiencing very dry weather, which coupled with the heat has produced a number of wildfires. So far, there has not been a loss of life because of the fires, but they have damaged and destroyed more than 3,500 acres of land and property. That is exactly why the burn ban is in place."
On Aug. 23, local authorities held a press conference at Bossier Parish Fire District 1 in Haughton, Louisiana, to discuss the burn ban in Bossier Parish. Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington said the main purpose of the conference is to inform the public that there are consequences if individuals do not adhere to this ban.
Read: Two Caddo fire units battle Keithville woods fire on Monday
According to the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, anyone found violating the burn ban can face misdemeanor charges, including a $500 fine and 30 days in jail.
He said, "People have been ignoring it and it's gotten to the point to where it is critical." According to Whittington, since June 1, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office has received 133 calls concerning various types of fires in the parish.
Whittington said, "Let's all work together to keep Bossier Parish safe." He continued by urging the public to not underestimate the severity of this situation and the potential devastation that can occur from our actions from seemingly insignificant fires.
More: 'Louisiana has never seen a summer like this' as 9 more die from heat-related illness
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana heat crisis: Bossier Parish Sheriff talks burn ban
