A burn ban in Bossier Parish, beginning Friday, July 15, has been announced following a state of emergency declaration signed by the Bossier Parish Police Jury President Tom Salzer.
Bossier Parish fire chiefs called for the ban until conditions improve, according to Ian Snellgrove, director of the Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Snellgrove said the burn ban declaration has been filed with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness according to state requirements.
Following is the text of the emergency declaration:
State of Emergency for Bossier Parish
WHEREAS, the Parish of Bossier is threatened with an emergency condition within our parish due to the lack of rainfall, the past several months of dry and extreme heat conditions in our region, this has created dangerous fire conditions for Bossier Parish.
According to the Weekly US Drought Monitor, a majority of Bossier Parish has been in a DO – Abnormally Dry conditions past several weeks. Last week a portion of the parish’s West and North Western portion to near/-220 has seen the change to a D1-Moderate Drought, and according to this week’s report from the US Drought Monitor. The D1 – Moderate Drought has grown and spreading across the northern portion of Bossier Parish. Now according to the National Weather Service 10-day Outlook Forecasts for below normal rainfall as well as likely above normal temperatures, all of which creating the very dry ground and vegetative conditions. These conditions will remain and likely get worse if we do not receive adequate rainfall amounts in our area. This dryness along with any wind conditions will have a negative impact to our parish by the increased fire danger threat within Bossier Parish and surrounding areas.
WHEREAS, The Bossier Parish Fire Chiefs agree, that there is a very definite threat possibility to life and property of the citizens of this Parish as well as first responders safety issues; and requested the Burn Ban be in effect for the entire Bossier Parish area beginning Friday, July 15, until these conditions improve and,
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq., and specifically La. R.S. 29:727 confers upon the Parish President emergency powers to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or manmade causes, in order to ensure that preparations of their Parish will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the Parish;
WHEREAS, when the Parish President determines that a disaster or emergency has occurred, or the threat thereof is imminent, La. R.S. 29:727(D) empowers the Parish President to declare a state of emergency by executive order or proclamation, or both;
THEREFORE,1, Tom Salzer the Bossier Parish President of the Bossier Parish Police Jury, by authority vested in me by the Parish Charter and the Louisiana Disaster Act, do hereby proclaim:
A STATE OF EMERGENCY does exist within Bossier Parish and that the Emergency Preparedness / All Hazard Emergency Operations Plan be activated and in effect immediately.
Issued on this 14th day of July 2022 and effective at time of issuance.
Tom Salzer
President, Bossier Parish Police Jury