Heavy smoke is filling the air across New Orleans, causing visibility issues and a burning smell. People have been complaining for several days on social media about the bad smell.New Orleans Fire Department says the smoke is coming from a fire near Bayou Sauvage.The fire is burning southeast of Blind Lagoon near the Bayou Sauvage Ridge. The fire was caused by a lightning strike back on July 29, 2023. It’s been burning ever since. The bad smell may come from the peat that is smoldering. Peat is decayed vegetation. Our light winds are not dispersing the smoke. This afternoon we had a light ESE wind. That sent the smoke from the Bayou Sauvage fire our way, and the smoke from the Lafitte fire our way. The sky became dense with smoke!United States Fish and Wildlife Service is overseeing this fire, and we’re told they are unable to reach the area. It is surrounded by water, so firetrucks can’t get close.Sewerage and Water Board is pumping water into the area to combat the fire.We also have the marsh fire near Lafitte. It is at 52% containment. The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve reports that fire crews from 7 states and 4 federal agencies are fighting the fire. There is still a lot of smoke, and it’s causing travel issues. Dense fog advisory is posted from 3 AM through 10 AM Monday. Temperatures will drop close to dew points, and fog will develop. The problem is that smoke puts more particles in the air. Moisture condenses on those particles, and smog develops. Expect visibility to really drop going into the morning. The good news is that the wind will increase during the day Tuesday. The wind will at least help disperse the smoke, and help prevent fog from developing.This is a developing story.Stay with WDSU First Warning Weather for the latest.
Heavy smoke is filling the air across New Orleans, causing visibility issues and a burning smell. People have been complaining for several days on social media about the bad smell.
New Orleans Fire Department says the smoke is coming from a fire near Bayou Sauvage.
The fire is burning southeast of Blind Lagoon near the Bayou Sauvage Ridge. The fire was caused by a lightning strike back on July 29, 2023. It’s been burning ever since. The bad smell may come from the peat that is smoldering. Peat is decayed vegetation. Our light winds are not dispersing the smoke. This afternoon we had a light ESE wind. That sent the smoke from the Bayou Sauvage fire our way, and the smoke from the Lafitte fire our way. The sky became dense with smoke!
United States Fish and Wildlife Service is overseeing this fire, and we’re told they are unable to reach the area. It is surrounded by water, so firetrucks can’t get close.
Sewerage and Water Board is pumping water into the area to combat the fire.
We also have the marsh fire near Lafitte. It is at 52% containment. The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve reports that fire crews from 7 states and 4 federal agencies are fighting the fire. There is still a lot of smoke, and it’s causing travel issues.
Dense fog advisory is posted from 3 AM through 10 AM Monday. Temperatures will drop close to dew points, and fog will develop. The problem is that smoke puts more particles in the air. Moisture condenses on those particles, and smog develops. Expect visibility to really drop going into the morning.
The good news is that the wind will increase during the day Tuesday. The wind will at least help disperse the smoke, and help prevent fog from developing.
This is a developing story.
Stay with WDSU First Warning Weather for the latest.