Lafourche Parish schools, roads reopen following marsh fire smoke impact
LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Several Lafourche Parish schools and roads were closed due to smoke from marsh fires on Thursday, Dec. 7.
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Initially, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that U.S. Highway 90 was closed between Louisiana Highway 316 (Bayou Blue Road) and Louisiana Highway 182 (Houma/Raceland Exit 210). Also, Louisiana Highway 182 was closed between Louisiana Highway 653 and Louisiana Highway 660 (Coteau Road).
Though, around 10:15 a.m., Louisiana State Police announced that both roadways had reopened.
(WGNO/Patrick Thomas) (WGNO/Patrick Thomas) (WGNO/Patrick Thomas)
This is the second time this week portions of Highway 90 and State Highway 182 were closed as a result of the fires.
Due to intense early morning fog continuing to close multiple roads, it doesn’t appear that the marsh fire is letting up.
One Lafourche Parish resident who lives near a detour says she hadn’t seen so much traffic in her area in a long time.
“Just going crazy. Everywhere there were just cops going and we were out here putting stuff out. It looked like a hurricane, you know an evacuation for a hurricane,” says the resident.
Assistant Fire Chief Gregg Falgout’s crew have worked to contain the fire since Monday, doing what they call back-burning to keep it controlled.
However, on Thursday it progressed toward the highway again.
“The winds had quit blowing and I guess the humidity, the moisture held the smoke to ground in that short section of the highway. Hopefully, it calms down enough so we won’t have problems like we are having,” says Chief Falgout.
With several school closures also occurring, one resident explains the smoke in the air is nothing new to the parish.
“I’ve always seen it I mean what are they going to do? I have been seeing this for fifty years. When it’s cold it creates a lot of fog plus we have the sugar mill running at the same time which steam makes more fog,” says Lafourche Parish resident Barry Foret.
US 90 and Highway 182 are open but there is no guarantee the fog will not return. As they work to put the fire out as soon as possible, the chief admits it’s hard to tell when the fire will be completely out.
“Most of the area has burned out on the westbound side of the highway. So we are shooting to say that it’s hopefully over. I couldn’t tell you if it’s contained because most of that area is unreachable,” says Chief Falgout.
As of now, schools will be back open Friday, Dec. 8, since all roads in the Raceland area are open. Be sure to check your child’s school website for updates.
State Troopers will continue to monitor conditions throughout the day. Check www.511la.org for updates from LA DOTD.
The following schools were closed on Thursday:
Raceland Lower Elementary
Raceland Upper Elementary
Raceland Middle
Bayou Blue Elementary
Bayou Blue Upper Elementary
Bayou Blue Middle
Central Lafourche High School.
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