Public Service Announcement

November 16, 2005

Federal and state agencies involved in cleanup related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are urging all coastal landowners to use extreme caution when setting fires in marshes. Many areas have not been completely surveyed for the existence of containers of hazardous, very flammable and/or explosive materials. These items may be buried within debris wracks and thus may not be readily visible during preliminary site visits. The possibilityexists that these containers and their contents, if exposed to fire, could cause severe injury to individuals involved in the burning of marshes. All landowners are advised to plan any burns they intend to do very carefully taking into account the possibility that such items may be present in their marshes.  Landowners are also advised to use extreme caution upon implementing any burn plan and to immediately contact Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, or your local Emergency Preparedness Office if they encounter any containers that they do not recognize or that they think could contain hazardous and/or highly flammable or explosive materials.

State Police – 1.877.925.6595