Prescribed burning
Set fires safely and legally for forest management, fire suppression, farming, or restoration
Prescribed burning is an important and useful management practice for forestry, agriculture, and wildlife habitat. It can be used to prepare a site for planting by reducing debris, to eliminate excess brush which serves as a fuel for wildfires, or to restore native ecosystems by reducing invasives. However, there are guidelines for prescribed burning whether it’s done by a CERTIFIED prescribed burn manager or a NON-CERTIFIED prescribed burn manager. You can find the requirements for each type below.
CERTIFIED prescribed burning
Controlled burning by certified professionals benefits the environment and keeps our communities safe from unplanned fires. Since 1993, our agency has administered the Louisiana Certified Prescribed Burner Program. Act #589 instructs us to conduct the needed training for burners to meet standards as a Certified Prescribed Burner.
To be a Certified Prescribed Burner, you must:
Have received either formal or “on the job” training in prescribed burning. Formal courses are taught by the LSUAgCenter . The LSU Smoke Management Guideline for Agriculture is used as the basis for the training.
Have conducted five burns as the supervising professional.
Burn using a prescribed burn plan .
Adhere to all Louisiana Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines and Voluntary Best Management Practice Guidelines for Forestry and Marsh.
Meet the Louisiana Notification of Burn directives.
Pass the certification exam with a score of 70% or higher.
To learn when the next Certified Prescribed Burner course will be held, reach out to your local LSU AgCenter agent .
For questions about agricultural and marshland certification cards, contact the Office of Soil and Water Conservation: at (225) 922-1269 or soilandwater@ldaf.state.la.us
For questions about forestry certification cards contact the Office of Forestry: (225) 925-4500 or forestry@ldaf.state.la.us
NON-CERTIFIED prescribed burning
The following requirements apply to non-certified prescribed burning, pursuant to La. R.S. 3:17.1 (Act 288 of the 2024 Regular Session):
A non-certified prescribed burn manager, prior to conducting a prescribed burn, shall provide the office of forestry with the location, date, and time of the prescribed burn.
The office of forestry shall review the information, and the non-certified prescribed burn manager shall agree to follow the relevant smoke management guidelines as approved by the department in order for the notification to be accepted.
This notice shall be submitted to the department 24-72 hours in advance and may be made via phone at 1-855-452-5323 or this form .
Upon receipt and review of the information submitted, a department representative will contact you.
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