Hopefully weather will hold for tonight’s bonfires

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 24, 2011

By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although Mother Nature produced some cause for concern with higher than normal river levels earlier this month and the threat of rainy weather earlier in the week, residents along the Mississippi River in St. John and St. James Parishes can expect to see scores of bonfires atop the levee set ablaze this evening starting at 7 p.m.

Rainy conditions Thursday forced many builders to wrap the teepee-shaped wood structures in protective coverings, but weather forecasts for this evening are calling for a much drier but colder night, which is perfect for huddling around the large fires to be produced by the annual River Parishes tradition.

Earlier this week, the National Weather Service had been forecasting a 40 percent chance of rain Saturday, but that has now come down to a 20 percent chance as of Friday. Rain is expected to move in late Saturday night and into Sunday, but it should not affect the lighting of the fires at 7 p.m.

The threat of precipitation this week was preceded by concerns about high water in the Mississippi River earlier this month. The unseasonably high level forced the Pontchartrain Levee District to put restrictions on levee activity pertaining to the construction of the bonfires. The mandates prevented those builders who had not begun construction prior to Dec. 15 from digging or driving on the levee. The traditional bonfire requires a center pole entrenched in the ground to act as a brace for the structures, which are sometimes built as high as 20 feet tall.

Many builders also often drive vehicles up to the levee with logs and other pieces needed for construction.

“Everyone was notified ahead of time, and everyone understood the circumstances,” said Lutcher Fire Chief Jason Amato. “There were some who just carried logs up from the bottom in the way it was done in the past.”

Monica Salinas of the Pontchartrain Levee District said Thursday that many builders had already started construction prior to the mandates and that the river is no longer a concern. She said the river reached 12.41 feet at the Carrollton Gage Thursday and it is expected to crest at 12.9 feet on Christmas Day, which is well below the 17-foot flood stage.

Although weather is not expected to be an issue, if the event were to be postponed, officials would make that decision during a 3 p.m. conference call today.

St. James and St. John Parish officials said Thursday that more than 120 permits were issued for bonfires between the two parishes, with most being built between Lutcher and Paulina. It is recommended that those wishing to come out for the lighting come early and be out along the levee by 6 p.m.

Parking will be available in lots along Louisiana Highway 641 and will require a walk to the levee of about three or four blocks.

Anyone interested in driving through may take Louisiana 3213 to Louisiana 44 exiting before the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Gramercy. Drivers can then travel along River Road through Gramercy and Lutcher.