State Fire Marshal H. "Butch" Browning and Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain will rescind the "Cease and Desist on Outdoor Burning" order that was issued on June 1, 2011.

Effective Thursday July 21, 2011 at 08:00am the statewide ban on burning will be lifted, subject to any parish or municipal regulations.

The statewide burn ban was issued in response to extreme dry conditions within the state and a high wildland fire danger. When the ban to cease burning went into effect, Louisiana was experiencing an average of 300 fires and nearly 4000 acres lost per month due to the dry conditions.

Following the order, the fire incidents dropped to 150 fires and 900 acres burned monthly. The ban was extremely effective in preventing wildland fires, officials said.

Although this ban will be lifted, the public is encouraged to use caution while burning as dry conditions still exist and many local governments may decide to continue "Burn Bans" in their communities.