NEW ORLEANS — Caution signs on Chef Highway alert drivers to what’s ahead in New Orleans East. If they miss the signs, drivers will soon smell and see the smoke those signs were warning them of.
“The smoke is thick,” said Rayquan Franklin who works next to the forested wetlands that are burning.
City leaders say about 200 acres of private property have already burned near Bayou Sauvage.
“It bothers me, breathing it in every day,” said Franklin.
That smoke is more than a nuisance for Franklin who drives to work around 4:30 in the mornings from Slidell.
“I come from that way, from over there and I see it a lot,” said Franklin. “It’s like clouding up the roads and stuff when I’m coming in.”
The fire is burning at and below the surface, so putting it out hasn’t been easy. With dry conditions and not enough rain, drainage water from canals is being pumped in to try and flood the land.
“We’re continuing to focus on and mitigate as best we can,” said Mayor LaToya Cantell.
Cantrell says she flew over the area Monday.
“The biggest hazard from this incident seems to be and remains to be the smoke and that’s impacting air quality as well as driver visibility,” said Cantrell.
When in the area you can really see just how thick some of the smoke is. Wind is pushing it around, some of it is out on the roads and open areas. It’s always making its way across the city.
Authorities point to that smoke for helping create the “super fog” Monday morning around Interstate 55. Eight people died because of a series of fiery crashes that involved more than 160 vehicles. Franklin drove through similar conditions on his way to work that morning.
“I made it to work on time, no problems,” said Franklin. She said she didn't know it was that bad until later in the day.
The city of New Orleans is giving out free masks for folks who need them because of air quality concerns. Since Franklin mostly works outside, he’s ready for the smoke to clear.
“Imagine the heat, then you’ve got that smell, and it’s all the other stuff with it too,” said Franklin.
Distribution of N95 and KN95 masks are happening Monday through Friday at the four locations.
Those locations are:
- NOLA East Regional Library, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Joe Brown Park, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- Sanchez multi-purpose Center, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Algiers Regional Library, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
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