With wildfire season in full swing in Louisiana, knowing how to keep yourself and your family safe during these dire conditions is critical. Like many disasters, Louisiana wildfires disrupt your daily lives for days, weeks, and months. It’s, therefore, necessary to stay updated with wildfire warnings and alerts, prepare yourself and your property, and make an evacuation plan.
Other than these, gathering your essentials like water, food, a first aid kit, radio, medications, multi-purpose tools, and others is essential. The most important is a solar generator that can power your household appliances and keep you connected with your family and friends even when the power is gone for hours. And Jackery Solar Generators are one of the best out there. They are portable, reliable, and effective and can run your appliances without issues.
Key Takeaways
- Wildfires in Louisiana begin in September and last up to 30 weeks, but due to climate change and other factors, these are now a year-long phenomenon. The latest wildfire hit the Kisatchie National Forest on June 26, 2024, engulfing nearly 704 acres.
- A fire is a chemical reaction between oxygen in the air and flash fuel, and despite being a wetter state, Louisiana has seen multiple incidents of wildfire in the past.
- To prevent the Louisiana wildfires, it’s essential to stay updated about different types of fire warnings, prepare yourself and your property, and make an emergency supply kit and an evacuation plan.
- Post wildfires, you must monitor your health and local air quality reports, prepare for the next wildfire, and keep the indoors clean.
Louisiana Wildfires Facts
A wildfire is an uncontrollable blaze that burns wildlife vegetation. Depending on its intensity, it can also be referred to as a forest fire, bushfire, grass fire, or woodland fire. While naturally started wildfires benefit an ecosystem, an extensive fire can have severe consequences, such as burning down homes, acres of undeveloped areas, and wildlife habitats.
Generally, the summer months (June-September) are peak times for climatic disasters like wildfires, heat waves, storms, and drought in the US. However, with climate change and temperatures peaking yearly, wildfire season is starting early and lasting long.
The peak in Louisiana begins in early September and lasts up to 30 weeks. According to some news sources, the largest fire hit the state on June 26, 2024, in Kisatchie National Forest. It covered roughly 704 acres in total, an area larger than the entire Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Besides, on 27 February this year, a large bush fire burned around 200 acres of Livingston Parish and came close to homes.
The biggest of all in recent times, however, was the Tiger Island Fire in southwest Louisiana which engulfed more than 30,000 acres and killed two. The state saw nearly 600 fires in August, exacerbated by triple-digit temperatures, leading to a major drought.
It might seem that the wildfire season is coming early, but as such, they are now regarded more as a year-round phenomenon and less as a season. With temperatures soaring up to 98°F (36°C) on Memorial Day and a few wildfires already hitting the area, the same is expected this year.
Therefore, determining what started a fire is critical in controlling or putting it out. Both human activities and natural factors are responsible for these, but as per the National Park Service, humans contribute to up to 85% of the wildfires in the United States. Human-caused fires include:
- Burning debris and other waste
- Unattended campfires
- Reckless disposal of used cigarettes
- Malfunctions in machineries
- Use of explosives and weapons
- Intentional acts of arson, i.e., an act of intentionally setting fire to a property
Each of these can be avoided, provided appropriate measures are taken. Although natural factors account for approximately 15% of wildfires, they can potentially ignite these massive blazes. The most prevalent natural factor is lightning strikes, which fire up a tree, which spreads to burn the entire forest down and impact livelihood.
As mentioned, wildfires can hit at any time, so keeping track of them and asking for help in emergencies is crucial. Here’s a list of emergency contacts and map resources for Louisiana wildfires:
- Forest Service — U.S. Department of Agriculture: Interactive Wildfire Map provides information on wildland fire emergencies and prescribed fires.
- Emergency Hotline number: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry—(855) 452-5323. Call whenever there is an emergency involving wildfires.
- National Integrated Drought Information System: Interactive Map: Wildfire Management and Drought get the latest information about droughts.
- American Red Cross: for any fire-related injuries, contact 1-800-733-2767.
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio and Emergency Alert System: provides alerts about potential threats, such as wildfires.
- National Weather Service (NWS): issues warnings about dry conditions and hot weather leading to wildfires
Monitoring the probability of developing a fire, its behavior, and its impact are ways of assessing wildfire risks. Such assessments allow people to stay aware of the hazards and be prepared to deal with them better.
How Do Louisiana Wildfires Start
Every year, Louisiana sees an average of 5.9 deaths and 16.0 injuries per 1,000 fires, as per NFIRS. These fires not only result in human casualties but scorch millions of acres of land and billions of dollars in damages to the surrounding areas.
So, how do these wildfires start? As mentioned, both human and natural events cause them. Regardless of the reason, wildfires need three components to ignite and eventually spread: heat, fuel, and oxygen, also referred to as a “fire triangle.”
So, a fire is generated when a chemical reaction takes place between the oxygen and flash fuel heated to its flash point or the minimum temperature it ignites. Fuel can be any flammable material, such as grasses, trees, shrubs, and houses.
The fire spreads in the direction where these materials are abundant and can fizzle out quickly, uncontrolled, consuming thousands of acres of land within hours. Weather and topography also influence the intensity and movement of a wildfire. For example, if the weather gets dry, wildfires spread quickly.
High temperatures and dangerously dry conditions have resulted in an unprecedented and record-breaking wildfire season in Louisiana in 2023. Other than that, some threats and historical data about the wildfires in Louisiana are as follows:
- In 1788 and 1794, the Great Fires of New Orleans collectively destroyed almost the entire city.
- In 2010, around 483 reported wildfires burned down around 6000 acres of land. The two most damaging fires occurred in Southern Beauregard parishes and DeQuincy.
- Over 600 wildfires consumed 60,000 acres of land and killed two in August 2023.
When a wildfire breaks in Louisiana, it risks the residents’ lives and possessions, damages structures, and disrupts communications, transportation, power, gas, and water supply, putting the state’s economy at risk. These wildfires release heat, and the temperature reaches up to 1000°F (537°C), which is high enough to melt metals.
Besides, it releases smoke and particulates, which travel distances and stay in the air for a long time to harm the health of people living nearby or far away. Wildfire smoke’s high concentration of chemical compounds is also linked with cancer and premature birth. And people with respiratory problems, pregnant individuals, and children are at a greater risk of experiencing complications from wildlife smoke exposure.
How to Prevent Louisiana Wildfires
Nationally, nine out of ten wildfires are caused by humans, and preventing them can save many human lives, property, and other natural resources. Whether local, tourist, or official, you can avoid human-led fires and protect the resources. Here are the tips on how you can prevent these wildfires:
Know The Wildfire Warnings & Alerts
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio and Emergency Alert System provide alerts about wildfires and other similar potential hazards. You can get updates about increasing temperatures and dry weather from the National Weather Service (NWS), potentially amplifying wildfire chances. NWS issues these wildfire alerts and warnings:
- Fire Weather Watch: As the name suggests, the NWS issues alerts of severe fire weather, which means the risk of wildfires is high during this time. Residents are encouraged to keep a watch and prepare to stay safe.
- Red Flag Warning: This alert signifies that the conditions allow the fires to start and spread spontaneously. People in high-risk areas must take precautions and apply caution in the event of a fire.
- Extreme Fire Behavior: This warning implies that wildfires can expand swiftly and get out of control.
These warnings are issued in addition to conventional narrative forecasts. Aside from these alerts, LDAF issues notices about the possibility of the fire breaking out. These alerts include:
|
Level of Wildfire Danger |
Details |
|
Low Fire Danger |
It indicates that fires won’t start readily, and those that begin spread slowly and can be extinguished easily. |
|
Medium Fire Danger |
At this level, the underlying source can be any, and although the intensity is between low and medium, it can escalate with fuel conditions. |
|
High Fire Danger |
This alert means the fire can start rapidly, and if suppression measures don’t start swiftly, they can be challenging to extinguish. |
|
Very High Fire Danger |
It means that fires can quickly start and spread, and the risk of blowing up is high. |
|
Extreme Fire Danger |
This warning means that the possibility of heat catastrophe has increased significantly. In such scenarios, extinguishing a fire is almost impossible until the burning is subsidized. |
LDAF has plenty of wildland firefighting professionals on standby ready to respond to any wildfires that might hit the state. Their surveillance planes fly far to detect the intensity of the smoke and contact a ground team to deal with it swiftly. So, in any emergency related to wildfires, contact the LDAF.
Personal Preparation Tips
Most wildfires are human-caused by improper burning of campfires, debris, arson, discarded wood, and equipment. Here are some tips to prevent wildfires and stay safe:
- Be Careful with Fire: Avoid using sparks or fire in dry or windy conditions, and make sure the areas are open, away from flammable vegetation. If you use gas-powered equipment like grinders, chains, cut-offs, or concrete saws, ensure they have spark arrestors. Inspect the equipment every time you use it, and take it for necessary repairs. Don’t rush to put it off in case of fire, as you might risk yourself burning and causing injury. Use a fire extinguisher if you have any, or call 9-1-1 for help.
- Follow Laws and Restrictions: Don’t burn debris in dangerous weather; the fire could spread to nearby forests. Also, don’t light up a campfire in any illegal location, with a forest or properties nearby, and carefully dispose of hot charcoal or other smoking materials.
- Practice Communication: In emergencies, your first thought is to keep your family and friends safe. If you’re not together, and the authorities have issued a fire alert, practice communicating with each other. Keep a list of emergency services and people you can readily contact in the locality.
- Practice First Aid Skills: If someone is hurt badly, call for help, and until it arrives, it’s essential to provide the first assistance. Every year, more than 3 million people gain the needed skills to respond to emergencies through American Red Cross training classes. You can take the same and be a valuable resource during emergencies.
Property Preparation Tips
Individuals are better prepared against wildfires when their houses are fire-proof. Here are a few tips for that:
- Modify Your Roof: To make your house fireproof, start with the roof and replace the existing one with a Class A-rated roof with noncombustible coverings. Also, install and replace eaves with flat ledges and short overhangs. Embers might fly during wildfires onto your roof’s eaves and ledges, resulting in fire.
- Keep Embers Out: Cover under-eave and attic vents with metal wire mesh of around 1/8 inch to keep the flying embers out during a fire.
- Harden the House: Cover your wall with fire-resistant materials that aren’t susceptible to melting. Ensure these have at least an hour of resistance to fire.
- Create a Defensible Space: Remove any flammable vegetation around the house and replace combustibles with brick, gravel, or concrete.
- Clean and Remove Debris from Gutters: The debris can catch fire from the flying embers, and clearing them out regularly is important to stay safe.
- Plan to Access Water: Install external sprinkler systems connected to an exterior water tank. Also, connect garden hoses long enough to fill water in garbage cans, tubs, and other large containers.
- Invest in a Battery Backup: Power outages and blackouts are common during these emergencies, so it’s smart to invest in a reliable and effective battery backup solution, Jackery Solar Generators are one of the best out there. It can power up most of your appliances for hours without any issues.
Emergency Supply Kit
Wildfire evacuees often lament that as they race outside the door, they only grab the things closest to them, not the things that help them survive these dire situations. It’s thereby crucial to make a list of items you want to take during evacuation and pack them in a backpack ahead of time. Download the Emergency Supply Kit Checklist.
Evacuation Plan
Now that you have the necessary items, the next step is developing an emergency evacuation plan. You must communicate the plan to your family members and the people accompanying you. It should include:
- Signing up for local emergency alerts on their smartphones, radios, or other devices. They’ll receive an alert when a wildfire is detected within 30 miles.
- Putting up the emergency supply kit.
- Ensure the people know their school, workplace, and commuter route evacuation plans.
- Leave early if you have pets, small children, physical challenges, livestock, or other challenges that need additional assistance.
- Parking the vehicles in an open space facing the direction to escape and ensure the tank is always half-full.
However, Vehicles are most vulnerable to fires, and those who don’t need them to evacuate must keep them in the garage and lock the sunroof and garage to ensure no embers enter. Also, if you don’t have a garage, cover your vehicle with a custom-fitted cover.
Assessing Your Risks
Assessing wildfire risks involves staying updated on the possibility of a fire developing, the fire’s behavior, and its impact. These assessments keep the residents aware of the hazard, better prepare for it, and stay safe. They also allow the respective agencies to develop and implement preventive plans.
Besides monitoring the maps, contacting the local planning and zoning office to understand the potential of developing any wildfire is a part of the risk assessment. These offices update the residents on where are the wildfires in Louisiana and if there are any special regulations to follow. They also guide and train the residents with the best practices to stay safe against wildfire.
Jackery Solar Generators for Emergencies
Solar generators can be a viable companion during emergencies, as they can provide a clean and reliable power source when the grid is down. These generators are portable, can power essential appliances like lights, computers, TVs, etc., and don’t require a complex setup.
Jackery is a well-renowned manufacturer of solar panels, portable power stations, and solar generators. The Jackery Solar Generators combine Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels and Jackery Portable Power Stations, which collect and convert the sun’s rays into usable electricity that can power most of your household appliances during emergencies like wildfire.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro features a large battery capacity to run 99% of your basic and essential appliances during blackouts and power outages caused by a wildfire. Its two pull rods and wheels make it easy to carry across the house and to another location you need to move out during an emergency. Besides, it operates silently at 30dB and is completely safe to power any appliances.
Appliance Working Hours
- Microwave (960W): 2.7H
- Light (10W): 257H
- HAM Radio (100W): 25.7H
- Electric Cooker (900W): 2.9H
- Kettle (850W): 3.0H
Customer Review: “Great unit. Run everything I need with minimal drain. Game changer for extended stays!!”- Mark Berger.
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is another great battery backup solution that’s expandable and versatile for multiple scenarios. During extended blackouts and power outages, you can plug in your basic appliances, such as TV, HAM radio, laptop, electric cooker, and others, and run them for hours without any issues. This sustainable next-generation generator is toxin-free, noise-free, and eco-friendly.
Appliance Working Hours
- Microwave (960W): 1.8H
- HAM Radio (100W): 17.3H
- LED light (10W): 173H
- Electric Cooker (900W): 2.0H
- Kettle (850W): 2.0H
Customer Review: “I went off-grid with it, and we love it. We live in a camper and power up everything for at least 2 days without charging but using everything, so I'm very happy that we got it. We have a small Jackery that we relied on, but now we have no problem with power”- Marcin Powichrowski.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus
If you need to power your appliances on the go during evacuation, then Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Plus is a great pick. It supports additional battery packs, so you can plug it in to get extra hours on 99% of your household appliances during emergencies. You can power your smartphones, HAM radios, laptops, and others to stay updated and connected to family members and friends if they are far away.
Appliance Working Hours
- Phone (30W): 35.8H
- Electric Cooker (900W): 1.2H
- Microwave (960W): 1.1H
- Kettle (850W): 1.3H
- HAM Radio (100W): 10.7H
Customer Review: “I am new to solar generators, but the Jackery was easy to set up and put into operation. Runs the basics I need, i.e., accessories charging, light & fan with power to spare. Love it!”- Robert LaQuerre.
How to Stay Safe During A Louisiana Wildfire
Wildfires spread rapidly, posing significant risks to life and property. To ensure safety during these events, understand the environment's unique challenges, recognize early warning signs, and implement the necessary safety measures. Continue reading to understand the strategies that help you keep safe:
How To Stop A Wildfire
Wildfires affect everyone and can spread fast and harm the residents. So follow the tips to stop a wildfire:
- Build Campfires in Open Location: Many people like camping to enjoy nature's beauty and light a campfire. These can cause fires if you don’t build and extinguish them properly. Besides, building them in many locations is illegal, so stay updated. Douse the fire with a bucket of water, stir it, and follow it up by adding another bucket of water and stirring it until it’s cold.
- Maintain Your Vehicle and Equipment: Your equipment and vehicle can shoot sparks from the exhaust, especially if they aren’t maintained regularly. They can also reach higher temperatures if you’re off-roading and traveling long distances.
- Carry Necessary Equipment: Carry a bucket, shovel, fire extinguisher, and a bucket in your vehicle to put out fires. For bigger fires, you need more equipment, such as pumps, fire engines, helicopters, bulldozers, air tankers, etc.
- Check your Tires, Axles, and Bearings of a Trailer: If you’re towing a trailer, carry a maintenance check to ensure its axles and bearings are greased, tires are not worn, and chains are properly in place.
- Keep Sparks away from Dry Vegetation: Ensure the equipment you’re operating isn’t producing any sparks around the dry vegetation. The risks are higher if the area is windy and dry.
- Personal Safety: Having an evacuation plan and knowing the safest routes are important for you to leave promptly when an emergency arises.
How to survive a wildfire
Wildfires can hit a location without warning, trapping people in unexpected places and circumstances. If wildfire hits your area, residents inside homes must take the following precautions:
- To stay updated with the latest information, keep an eye on the news published by local media and the fire department.
- Move your furniture as far away from the fire as possible.
- Prepare your families, including pets, for evacuation.
- Lock your windows, doors, ventilation, and other entrances to prevent embers from entering the home.
- Keep emergency essentials and other valuables in your vehicles in case of an evacuation.
- Fill garbage cans, hot tubs, pools, and large containers with water. You might need a lot of water to put out the fires.
- Follow the instructions your local authorities and emergency agencies provide during cases of wildfires.
Recovery After Louisiana Wildfires
Wildfires majorly impact people's lives, so make efforts to assist and rehabilitate residents and create strategies to prevent any new fires from starting. Residents in the affected areas must do the following to stay safe when fires are gone:
Monitor The Health
Wildfire and heat release a ton of smoke and particulates, potentially creating diverse reactions in the health of the people exposed to it. If you feel uneasiness or ill, pay attention and take action to minimize the impact. The effects can range from eye to respiratory tract irritation to more serious disorders like bronchitis, reduced lung function, heart failure, exacerbation of asthma, and premature death. People with the latter must seek medical attention immediately.
Prepare For The Next Wildfire
Due to climate change, wildfire seasons are lengthening and becoming more deadly every year. It’s, therefore, important to prepare yourself beforehand by staying updated on the latest news and keeping emergency kits and contacts ready to better deal with the impact of smoke and heat from wildfires.
Monitor Local Air Quality Reports
Residents are required to gather updates about air quality reports, smoke health warnings, and safety precautions. You can visit the AirNow fire and smoke map to collect information on smoke generated from wildfires and take action accordingly.
Keep Indoor Air Clean
Smoke and particles remain in the air for days after wildfires, and therefore, it’s crucial to keep them out by closing the doors and windows, sealing the ventilations, and using filters and air conditioners. Aside from that, avoid habits that contribute to pollution, such as smoking, lighting candles, using gas stoves, fireplaces, etc., to keep indoor air free of smoke.
Pets
Pets, especially, are vulnerable to smoke and particulates released by wildfires. Therefore, it’s important to keep the pets inside until the air quality has improved. If air quality alerts are in effect, let them out only for brief bathroom breaks. Other than that, keep the pet preparedness kit, including water, food, medicine, essential documents, and other documents, ready, and include pets in your disaster preparedness plan.
Louisiana Wildfires FAQs
What size of solar generator do I need for an emergency?
A solar generator is a battery backup solution powered by clean, green energy to run most of the appliances you need during an emergency. The size of the solar generator you need for an emergency depends on how many appliances you power on it and for how long.
For example, you’re running a HAM radio (100W), kettle (850W), and a smartphone (50W) with Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro,
Working Time = Capacity of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro in Wh × 0.85 / Operating wattage of the appliances.
So, Working Time= 3024Wh × 0.85 / 1000W = 2.6H
Note: There is some power loss while charging the devices. Hence, we have multiplied the overall battery capacity by 0.85.
Where was the Louisiana wildfire?
The recent wildfire in Louisiana hit Kisatchie National Forest on June 26, 2024, and covered roughly 704 acres.
What is causing wildfires in Louisiana?
Louisiana had an unprecedented wildfire season, exacerbated by extreme heat and dry conditions. Human factors also contributed to these wildfires.
How many people have died in Louisiana wildfires?
The current wildfire has no casualties, but the biggest in recent time, in August 2023, killed two people. As per NFIRS, Louisiana sees an average of 5.9 deaths and 16.0 injuries per 1,000 fires.
How often does Louisiana have wildfires?
Louisiana sees an average of 771 wildfires, which burn around 8,217 acres of land annually.
Louisiana Wildfires Preparedness
Staying prepared and self-sufficient is the best way to remain safe during emergencies like wildfires. It means staying safe at home or in your evacuation location. After the Louisiana wildfires, chances are your basic utilities, including running water and power, aren’t available, mainly because the grid is down. This is quite a typical scenario after any emergency, and having a Jackery Solar Generator fully charged is key to maintaining your normal living standards. These are portable, noise-free, and toxin-free, and they can charge most of your emergency appliances for hours.
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