The burning of sugar cane fields in West Baton Rouge Parish is sending ashes into the air and across the Mississippi River to Baton Rouge on Wednesday, a phenomenon seen several times since the fall.
“It is pretty noticeable today that they’re burning cane; you’ll see it more,” Baton Rouge Fire Department spokesman Justin Hill said Wednesday afternoon.
Last week, the St. George Fire Department noted on social media that the ashes falling from the skies can be an irritant and offered a few precautions:
- Limit outdoor activity if you have respiratory sensitivities.
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- Bring pets indoors when possible.
- Avoid using leaf blowers, which can stir ash back into the air.
Both fire departments have received calls from time to time about the falling ashes. Burning sugar cane fields is a common farming practice…