Single Publication

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Lafitte Fire Update               
October 31, 2023 
Fire Information Line – (504) 382-0291
2023.lafitte@firenet.gov
Fulton Jeansonne, Incident Commander

Size: 147 acres | Containment: 60% | Total Personnel: 63 | Location: 0.5 miles north of Jean Lafitte, 
1.5 miles north of Barataria | County: Jefferson | Start Date: October 17, 2023 | Cause: Undetermined   

Fire Updates will be published every other day.

Special Note- Please help firefighters by following all local regulations. “If you fly, we can’t.” https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/uas/if-you-fly  Unauthorized drone flights pose serious risks to firefighter and public safety and disrupt the effectiveness of wildfire suppression operations. Airspace restrictions are called Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and are communicated to pilots through Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). They restrict aircraft (including float planes & drones) from operating without permission in a certain area for a limited time. You must always check NOTAMs prior to your flight. Incursions into the TFR have occurred over the last couple of days. Drone incursions within wildfire areas with active aerial operations create a collision risk and may result in aircraft being grounded until the threat is mitigated. These delays adversely affect the safety and efficiency of the overall firefighting effort.

Jean Lafitte, LA - The Lafitte Fire in the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve has not exceeded its October 21st footprint. It is still 147 acres. However, containment has increased to 60% as a result of firefighters’ efforts including tactical saturation of hot spots. Any smoke that is produced by the fire is due to burning within the interior of the fire’s containment lines.

This week- Firefighters have deployed fire hose, set up sprinklers, and erected portable tanks across the fire area in an effort to saturate the ground with fresh water and extinguish the fire. With a thermal imaging capable drone, firefighters are able to precisely identify hot spots and then extinguish them.

Weather- The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a Red Flag Warning for Critical Fire Weather Conditions, which is in effect on Tuesday, October 31st from 10am-7pm. Winds are expected to be 10-20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Humidity is expected to drop to as low as 20%. Mostly cloudy skies are forecast with a 20% chance for showers in the morning. On Wednesday, a Fire Weather Watch is in effect. The forecast calls for a sunny day with highs on the upper 50s and north winds 15-20 mph with gusts possible up to 40 mph.

Lafitte Fire information link: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident-information/lajep-lafitte

National Park Service information link: https://www.facebook.com/JeanLafitteNPS