Rapides Parish, LA (10/2/2023) – Firefighters with the U.S. Forestry Service responded to a fire in the Claiborne Firing Range on early Monday, October 2, 2023.
According to the Rapides Office of Emergency Preparedness the fire burned an area of approximately 20 acres.
Federal personnel with the U.S. Forestry Service are managing the fire, Oak Hill Fire Department and Rapides Fire District provided water support and remains on scene at the staging area. The area is bounded by La. Hwy 112 on the South and Twin Bridges Road on the North.
The fire is contained but a backline around approximately 1,600 is being established. Smoke will continue to be visible for the next couple of days, from this fire.
Blacklining is the pre-burning of fuels adjacent to a control line before igniting a prescribed burn. Blacklining is usually done in heavy fuels adjacent to a control line during periods of low fire danger to reduce heat on holding crews and lessen chances for spotting across control line. In fire suppression, a blackline denotes a condition where there is no unburned material between the fireline and the fire edge. -- usda.gov
According to Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, there is still a Parish Burn Ban in effect and burning is not permitted.
Rapides 911 ask that residents, ONLY CALL 911 IF YOU SEE AN ACTIVE FIRE IN THIS AREA.
