Burning discouraged in Franklin

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has issued an advisory urging all Louisiana residents to curtail outside burning until weather conditions improve.
The recent freezes have killed most combustible vegetation, and coupled with high winds and low rainfall, has made fire conditions critical in the state. Statewide, fire departments are responding to a higher number of grass fires taxing their response abilities.
Franklin Fire Chief Chuck Bourgeois said that within the past week the Franklin Fire Department has responded to more grass and open burning fires than normal. A field fire was extinguished in the St. Joseph area when a resident left a bonfire unattended. A grass fire started by an unattended trash fire burned onto four properties, destroying a shed and damaging a fence in Franklin. Quick actions by a neighbor prevented another unattended bonfire from spreading to a large wooden warehouse.
Open burning within the City of Franklin is prohibited with the exception of cooking and small bonfires. Residents cannot burn yard waste, branches, leaves or trash of any type within the city limits, the chief said.
The key factor in all the recent fires in the Franklin area has been that the person who started the fire left it unattended and it spread. Bourgeois said that if an unattended fire gets out of control and spreads to a neighboring property, the person who started the fire is fiscally and legally responsible for any and all damages. Also, the Fire Department can cite that individual and fines are up to $500 for each occurrence.
Residents in the unincorporated areas are also urged to curtail burning of yard waste and limbs until weather conditions become favorable.
Bourgeois says that the burning of trash, plastics, tires and items other than branches and yard waste is strictly prohibited. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality rigorously enforces those air quality laws, and the fines for burning those prohibited items can go into the thousands of dollars.
Franklin residents are urged to use common fire safety practices when having a bonfire. Use a fire ring or metal container to contain the fire. Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy. When done, completely douse the embers to prevent the fire from spreading.
Never use gasoline or any flammable liquid to start a fire. Last year a Franklin resident succumbed to his injuries when he used gasoline to start a bonfire. The vapors flashed back onto him catching him on fire.
Small bonfires on these crisp evenings can provide great enjoyment when common sense fire safety practices are used.
For additional information, contact the Franklin Fire Department at 828-6328.