ASCENSION PARISH — Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment lifted the month-long parish-wide burn ban on March 9.
Originally, the burn ban, issued in late February, prohibited all outdoor burning until March 24, 2026. The ban was enacted in response to wildfire activity and fires in neighboring Livingston and St. Tammany parishes.
The executive order from March 9 states that dry conditions in the parish have improved due to heavy rainfall, and therefore, the burn ban is rescinded effective immediately.
Feb. 24, 2026
ASCENSION PARISH — As fire risks remain high across parts of Louisiana, Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment issued a parish-wide burn ban for the next month, effective immediately.
The burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning, including debris burning, trash burning, and open-air fires, until Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
The message, posted to the parish Facebook page, says the ban is in response to ongoing wildfire activity and recent fires in neighboring Livingston and St. Tammany parishes. It also cites dry vegetation, low humidity, and windy conditions.
“The safety of our residents and first responders is our top priority,” said Parish President Clint Cointment. “With active wildfires impacting communities across Louisiana and conditions remaining extremely dry, issuing this burn ban is a necessary step to prevent dangerous fires here in Ascension Parish.”
Officials will monitor conditions and modify or lift the burn ban as weather permits.
Original story
LIVINGSTON PARISH — Red flag warnings are in effect for all of Southeast Louisiana today, as critical fire conditions continue for a second day in a row. This comes as fire crews are working a fire again in the Gum Swamp Road area.
According to Livingston Parish Fire District #7, the fire on Gum Swamp Road has flared up and grown in size today. District 7 Fire and the Forestry Dept. crews are working on getting the fire under control at this time.
Officials are saying that Gum Swamp and Miller Roads are closed at this time and motorists should take alternate routes.
According to the National Weather Service, the current red flag warning is expect to expire at 6 p.m. Feb. 23. Affected areas include Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, Iberville, West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Lower Plaquemines, Upper Plaquemines and Central Plaquemines, Southeast St. Tammany, Northern St. Tammany, Southwestern St. Tammany, Central Tangipahoa, Lower Tangipahoa, Western Ascension, Eastern Ascension, Northern Livingston, Southern Livingston.
Across the region, relative humidity is low at 23%, and winds are 10 to 15 MPH, with gusts of up to 25 MPH, adding to the dangerous conditions.
While the U.S. Drought Monitor shows parts of Louisiana are dealing with moderate to extreme drought conditions right now, only some areas in the Capital Region are considered to be ‘abnormally dry.’ One of those areas is Southern Livingston Parish, where firefighters dealt with a massive woods fire on Sunday night.
Just yesterday, Livingston Fire Protection District #7 was called out to a fire in the area of Gum Swamp Road. Firefighters and the Forestry Department were able to get the fire under control, but say it burned about 200 acres.
WATCH MORE: Fire near Gum Swamp Road
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