October 2023

ecause of how it all works together. All
of the factors combined treat the wind
as a sort of fuel. I saw a fire run up a tree
and ignite a limb. Those embers were
then blown by the wind. That caused
the creation of another hotspot. Our
pine trees are dropping needles due to
the lack of water, which causes their sap
to serve as a sort of kerosene in the heat
and dry conditions. Embers only have to
travel yards, not miles, to start another
fire. Before fire trucks can get there, they
become one-acre fires, and the firefighters
have to start all over again. So, you’ve
got a situation that’s incredibly unusual.
The dryness we’re experiencing
is going to get worse, as there’s
no significant rain in the forecast,
which is one thing
that would really turn this
around.”
Commissioner of Insurance
Jim Donelon understands
that numerous
insurance claims
are set to come to light
and reminds municipal
leaders of steps they
can take to make sure
their municipalities don’t
get caught in a never-ending
loop of denials.
“Municipalities should review
their respective property policies
to determine if a wildfire is a
covered peril,” said Donelon. “From
a liability insurance perspective, municipalities
should further
review
their liability
policy to
determine if
something
may cause a
wildfire and
be a covered
peril. This is
important
Jim Donelon to know because,
for example, a public project such
as electrical infrastructure work that is
undertaken during an extremely dry
season could spark a fire that spreads
throughout a community. I also strongly
encourage municipalities to remind
their residents to review their personal
and commercial insurance policies as
well.”
Not enough wildfire training on the part
of volunteer fire departments specifically,
and not enough public outreach on
the devastating impacts that wildfire
season can have, are also key components.
And yes - Louisiana has a wildfire
season, but it’s not something Louisianans
hear much about.
Wildfire season in Louisiana peaks in
early September and runs for 30 weeks,
taking the state into the end of March.
Let’s look closely at the start date – the
beginning of September. We’ve already
seen over
60,000 acres
lost, with
much of that
loss taking
place before
the official
wildfire peak
season. And
the length
of time is
important Butch Browning
to note. If
something runs for 30 weeks, should it
lose its seasonal status? With something
that can cause devastation
for a majority of a calendar year
starting even earlier than expected,
why isn’t wildfire
season more notable and
year-round? And why aren’t
we more aware? Former
State Fire Marshal
Butch Browning has
some thoughts on that.
“Wildland fires have
been a common part of
our fire threat for ages,
and the methods to control
them are much different
than the conventional
municipal fire departments
are equipped and trained to
do. When fire gets near inhabited
areas it is called the ‘interface,’
and it is where your local fire department
would be called to control and
mitigate before structures and people
are in danger. The key to prevention is
limiting the vegetation and combustibles
near your home (this includes a 10-
foot space around your home), having
screens that keep embers from blowing
under patios and carports, and keeping
gutters clean. When there is a threat, one
can water lawns and soak rooftops in an
effort to extinguish embers. We understand
that dry conditions make wildland
fires more frequent, but the factor that
will quickly incapacitate firefighting ef-
LMR | OCTOBER 2023 Page 9