Spanish moss droops over aged cypress bark and steam rises from the black muck of storied bayous, creating a picture perfect scene — that is until a hurricane storm surge washes away the crevices for crawfish. After the torrents subside, the morning dew cleanses the banks of the Mississippi River to prepare for a new day.
Any Louisianian knows this scene all too well. At least, that’s what fiction writers, Discovery Channel and any “true Louisiana expert” will tell you. What they leave out are the natural disasters that mold the land we call home.
While hurricanes are the most infamous, there are other disasters outside of oil spills, levee breaks and Gov. Bobby Jindal’s decisions that threaten to ruin the state’s welfare.
In the past two weeks, a fire in northwest Louisiana consumed 5000 acres of woodland. Bienville Parish Ward 4&5 Fire Protection Chief Bobby Conly, along with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal, said the fire “is believed to have been sparked by lightning.”
Wildfire threats across the state are serious, and Smokey the Bear put Louisiana on high alert.
Another fire sparked in Natchitoches Parish, at its peak it was 250 acres and incinerated another 1,500 acres of Louisiana’s hardwood resources. An inferno in Sabine Parish prompted evacuations. Had it not been for air-assisted fire retardation, six to eight homes could have been destroyed, said South Sabine Fire District Jason Holcomb.
Most of the damage from the fires affected deer stands and empty cabins because the fires occurred in rural areas, and firefighters worked quickly and bravely, risking their lives. Their work is commendable, as these rural areas drive the forestry industry, which is “the second largest manufacturing employer in Louisiana,” according to the Louisiana Forestry Association.
Wildfires threaten the livelihoods and well-being of countless Louisianians.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry issued a burn ban citing “extreme dry conditions, abnormal emergency response and adverse future weather predictions.” This means no tossing cigarette butts outside window, halting annual leaf burnings in backyards and not leaving fire pits unattended where embers could spark unmitigated disasters.
Everyone has a part to play in ensuring the safety of our precious natural resources and respecting the officials charged with maintaining this order. Many express contempt for law official officers, especially Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries bean counters who count the number of deer killed in a hunt or are picky about the exact date the first duck is shot.
No one enjoys having their personal freedom curtailed by people seen as paper pushers who collect government checks and live off the dime of “hard working taxpayers.” These officers, however, are important, and their words on matters concerning fires are invaluable.
It’s paramount to protect the natural resources, beauty and character of this state by refraining from adding fuel to potential fires.
Garrett Hines is a 21-year-old political science senior from Monroe, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @garrettH_TDR.