Due to the dry conditions throughout the Parish, Rapides Parish Police Jury President Craig Smith has issued a cease and desist order for all private burning. Private burning shall only be allowed by permission of the local fire department. Parish fire departments have reported an increase of grass fires due to them be left unattended.

This order is effective immediately, and shall remain in effect until rescinded.

This ban shall not apply to prescribed burns by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, by hose trained and certified by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, or by those who conductprescribed burning as a “generally accepted agriculture practice” as defined by the Louisiana Right to Farm Law (R.S. 3:3601 et seq.)