BATON ROUGE — East Baton Rouge Parish is the latest parish in the Capitol Region to issue a burn ban. 

Mayor-President Sid Edwards issued an emergency proclamation on Friday afternoon temporarily suspending authorized outdoor burning throughout East Baton Rouge Parish in response to ongoing dry weather conditions, low soil moisture, elevated fire danger and recent fire activity.

Outdoor burning has been restricted under City-Parish ordinance since 1962, with burning permitted only under certain conditions or with proper authorization, according to a prepared statement released by the city-parish. Due to the increased fire danger, the emergency proclamation temporarily suspends those permissions to help prevent wildfires and uncontrolled fires that could threaten residents, property, and natural resources.

The problem is not specific to Baton Rouge. Iberville and West Feliciana parishes also announced burn bans earlier on Friday. 

Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle cited extremely dry conditions and an increased risk of wildfires.

The emergency declaration prohibits all open-air burning of trash, garbage, leaves, branches, and debris of any kind throughout the parish. The ban is intended to reduce the risk of uncontrolled fires that could threaten residents, homes, property and emergency response resources.

The burn ban does not apply to agricultural burning, structured fire pits and outdoor cooking. 

Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa and East Feliciana parishes are also under burn bans, as well as Amite and Wilkinson counties in Mississippi.