HAMMOND - Twenty-two parishes across Louisiana are under burn bans, including East Feliciana, St. Helena and Tangipahoa parishes, with that list expected to grow.The bans are due to extremely dry conditions and follow requests by local fire chiefs.The ban restricts open burning, which means burning outside on open ground without a container for the flame.A new act that took effect this month increases the penalties for burning during a ban. Violators who receive civil citations could face a $500 fine and anyone whose actions result in property damage can be fined up to $1,000 and face up to six months in jail."Please don't burn in these conditions. These guys work hard. If you walk outside in this heat, think about these guys with their gear on. They're fighting this fire that you set. Everybody wants to clean their yard. Just wait. Eventually we'll be back to burning as normal but you will still have to be careful because you are responsible for that fire," Tangipahoa District 2 Fire Administrator David Atkins said.Atkins said when someone is found burning, firefighters first ask them to put it out."Some people do not want to do that. If we get to that point, we call the Sheriff's Office and allow them to issue tickets and it will be a fine," Atkins adds.Natalbany Fire Department Chief Michael Polito said the strain on resources is a key reason the ban is in place."We have limited resources. If one is out of control, we have to call in additional help from other departments. It can be very taxing for us and that's why the burn ban is in effect. It's to protect our firefighters, our citizens and their property," Chief Polito said.Permalink| Comments ...read more read less