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September 19, 2009
Historic Bridge Destroyed
The historic wooden bridge crossing Caminada Pass to Grand
Isle was destroyed by fire. The fire burned for more than six hours before
being extinguished. The blaze began about midnight Friday and re-kindled
several times.
The long burn time is likely the cause of a flammable
chemical used to preserve the bridge, when firefighters arrived, flames
shot more than 25-feet high at the center of the bridge.
An estimated 1,000 feet of the nearly 4,000-foot bridge was destroyed.
Firefighters put out the flames at about 6:30 a.m.
The bridge dates back to the 1930s and once served as the
only route connecting Grand Isle to Louisiana before a concrete La. 1 span
replaced it.
The old wooden bridge served as a free public fishing pier
for decades until Hurricane Katrina damaged it severely in 2005. The
fishing bridge was rebuilt using federal grant money and reopened in July
2008.
Creosote, used as a protective coating to fend off rot is
likely what fed flames and caused the bridge to smolder throughout the
next day.
The cause is undetermined at this time. However, some
witnesses reported seeing a bonfire on the bridge with people sitting
around it before the blaze began.
Grand Isle Fire Chief asks that if you have information
about the fire’s cause, call the Grand Isle Fire Department at (985)-787-2777.
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