Key facts
| Equipment | Under the Louisiana statewide ban |
|---|---|
| Wood fire pit, chiminea, campfire | Prohibited |
| Propane or gas fire pit or fire table | Prohibited (open flame in a fire pit) |
| Burn barrel, bonfire | Prohibited |
| Grill or smoker designed for cooking | Allowed, any fuel, with water or an extinguisher nearby |
| Parish bans | Separate; can outlast the state order |
Sources: Louisiana State Parks alert citing the State Fire Marshal's order; Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry fire safety; KPLC, October 21, 2026; Cameron Parish Police Jury notice; U.S. Drought Monitor; Alabama Forestry Commission burn restrictions. Checked October 24, 2026. Bans change quickly; check the State Fire Marshal and your parish before lighting anything.
What the statewide order says
Louisiana State Parks' alert, citing the State Fire Marshal's order, says a statewide burn ban remains in effect that prohibits all private burning. Open flames in fire pits, campfires, barrels and bonfires stay prohibited until the order is lifted. Outdoor cooking is allowed in contained equipment designed for cooking, like grills and smokers, with a water source or fire extinguisher nearby, and the fuel source does not matter for that exception.
Worked example: a propane fire table in Lake Charles
A homeowner in Lake Charles has a propane fire table on the patio and a gas grill a few feet away. Under the state order, the grill can be used to cook dinner, with a hose or extinguisher ready. The fire table cannot be lit, because it is an open flame in a fire pit, even though it burns propane. Calcasieu and the rest of Southwest Louisiana were also under parish burn bans on October 21, 2026, so when the state order lifts, the parish rule still has to be checked before the fire table goes back on.
The drought behind it
The October 20, 2026 Drought Monitor map showed all of Louisiana abnormally dry or worse, 88.6% in moderate drought, 72.8% in severe, 41.2% in extreme and 2.2% in exceptional drought. Marsh and pine fuels are dry, which is why the bans cover every kind of open flame.
How Alabama compares
Alabama works in levels. The Forestry Commission issues Fire Danger Advisories and county Fire Alerts first. Its strictest level, a Drought Emergency No Burn Order from the Governor, bans all outdoor burning including campfires, while charcoal grills and masonry barbecue pits stay legal with hoses and a 10 foot cleared circle, and gas grills are allowed. No such order was in place on the October 20, 2026 map date, when 33.2% of Alabama was in moderate drought.
After the ban
When the order lifts, local rules take over. New Orleans requires an NOFD permit for bonfires and open ground fires. For a backyard pit, keep it on a noncombustible surface, away from the house and overhangs, and see our fire pit distance guide for common setbacks. A propane pit is easier to shut off fast, which helps when wind picks up, but it still counts as an open flame during a ban.
Related guides
- Kentucky fire hazard season and Louisville fire pit rules
- Utah no-burn days and fire pits
- How far should a fire pit be from the house?
- Wood vs gas vs smokeless fire pit
- Propane fire pits during a summer burn ban in Washington or Oregon
- Washington burn ban fire pit rules
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a fire pit during the Louisiana burn ban?
No. The State Fire Marshal's statewide order prohibits all private burning, including open flames in fire pits, campfires, barrels and bonfires, until the order is lifted.
Can I use a propane fire pit during the Louisiana ban?
A propane fire pit is still an open flame in a fire pit, which the order prohibits. The order allows contained equipment designed for cooking, and says the fuel source does not matter for that cooking exception.
Can I still grill or smoke meat in Louisiana?
Yes. Outdoor cooking in contained equipment designed for cooking, such as grills and smokers, is allowed with a water source or fire extinguisher nearby.
Are parish burn bans separate from the state ban?
Yes. KPLC reported on October 21, 2026 that all of Southwest Louisiana was under burn bans, and the Cameron Parish Police Jury issued its own notice that day. A parish ban can stay in place after the state order ends.
How bad is the Louisiana drought?
The October 20, 2026 U.S. Drought Monitor showed 88.6% of Louisiana in moderate drought or worse, 72.8% in severe, 41.2% in extreme and 2.2% in exceptional drought.
Is Alabama under a fire pit ban too?
Alabama's strictest level, a Drought Emergency No Burn Order, bans all outdoor burning including campfires. No such order was in place on the October 20, 2026 map date. Check the Alabama Forestry Commission's burn restrictions page before lighting a pit.
What fire pits are allowed in New Orleans when there is no ban?
New Orleans requires an NOFD permit for bonfires and open ground fires. A permit guide summarizing the city code says small portable outdoor fireplaces need a spark arrestor, a noncombustible surface and 10 feet from structures, so confirm with NOFD.
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