Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has seen a drastic decrease in wildfires over the past decade for various reasons.
According to records, LDAF firefighters battled and suppressed 1,638 wildfires in 2008. In 2018, LDAF firefighters suppressed 676 wildfires in Louisiana.
“We believe there are multiple factors that have contributed to the significant decline in wildfire occurrence throughout Louisiana,” said Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “While weather and forest conditions continue to vary, our forestry division’s efforts are making a difference and reducing the number of destructive wildfires across our state.”
The efforts include outreach programs to inform citizens on responsible debris burning, prescribed burning, utilizing modern wildland fire detection techniques and LDAF enforcement officers aggressively pursuing arsonists. LDAF enforcement officers have conducted 150 investigations resulting in 25 arrests in the past five years.