The One Thing Should You Not Do in Louisiana

(KTDY) - As summer rapidly comes to an end, the extreme heat seems to want to linger, and unfortunately, so are the dry conditions in south Louisiana.

It has been several weeks since Acadiana received a substantial amount of rainfall, and if you can't tell, it's VERY dry across the state.

A meteorologist posted on social media that Louisiana is approaching drought-like conditions, and when that happens, things can get dangerous.

Just a few days ago, while traveling north of Lafayette, I witnessed a massive brush fire as someone was clearing a tree line. I immediately thought to myself, "I hope they took the precautionary measures because it is too dry to be burning anything these days."

Now, some parishes in Louisiana are announcing burn bans due to the dry conditions. That's why I am taking a moment to remind you that until we receive a decent amount of rainfall in Acadiana, it is not wise to have an open fire.

Sure, your area may not be under a burn ban at this time, but that doesn't mean a fire can't spread onto your property or someone else's.

Currently, it's not safe to put anyone's property at risk by starting even a small fire on your own property.

Sure, you can light a fire in your BBQ pit this weekend or next, but remember it's not safe to dispose of ashes on the ground at this time, as they can reignite and start a fire.

Whenever a region approaches drought-like conditions, any open fire, large or small, poses a danger. It's best to wait before burning debris, a field, or anything else you might consider setting on fire.

If the State Fire Marshal's Office announces a state-wide burn ban, we will share that information with you on air and across this station's mobile app.

Stay safe, and let's hope that with the increased rain chances by the middle of next week, we get some relief from the extremely dry conditions in Acadiana.

Take a look at the parts of the state that are near drought conditions, and you can see how your area is being impacted by very little rainfall in recent weeks.

Sadly, we're approaching one of the driest months of the year, which could make things only worse when it comes to fire threats.