The INDsider -> Nathan Stubbs MON, SEP 21 10:28AM by Nathan Stubbs

Grand Isle fishing bridge burns

old_bridge_fire_011.jpgThe venerable fishing bridge at Grand Isle is now a shell of its old self, following a fire that lasted more than six hours and lit up the old road crossing the Caminada Pass. The fire began around midnight Friday and was expected to continue smoldering through this morning. Grand Isle Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson was greatly impressed with the strength of the fire. He told The Houma Courier: "It was like a beast, a dragon," adding that “normal firefighting methods did noold_bridge_fire_014.jpgt work. It was very unorthodox.”
 
The flames were likely fed by the bridge's creosote coating. What sparked the ravenous fire is still unknown, but The Courier also notes that "witnesses reported seeing a bonfire on the bridge with people sitting around it before the blaze began."

The bridge dates back to the 1930s, when it was the only road to Grand Isle. In recent decades, it has been used as a public fishing pier. Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed it in 2005, but it was rebuilt with an $800,000 grant from FEMA. old_bridge_fire_017.jpg

Photos courtesy of Bridge Side Marina staff  


 

 

 



Comments (12)add
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written by Buddy , September 21, 2009 - 05:32 pm
It's very sad. A piece of our history is destroyed... and $800,000 of taxpayer money was wasted! FEMA needs to just disappear. Spend $800,000 on a levee system or on wetlands restoration; not on a non-functioning bridge!
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written by ironic , September 21, 2009 - 05:57 pm
@buddy

Its kind of ironic that you're sad to see a piece of history destroyed, yet in the same breath you chastise someone for spending money to repair it after a natural disaster.

The real act of stupidity here is a group of people thinking it's a good idea to light a bonfire on a wooden structure (assuming the witness account is true)
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written by Buddy , September 21, 2009 - 11:36 pm
It's not just "somebody." It's the United States Government! I don't like wasteful government spending. There's no irony in that at all. Sure, it's sad to see the fishing bridge go, but it's sadder to see the government waste $800,000 on a bridge instead of spending it on something to protect people in case of an EMERGENCY. Hence the name Federal EMERGENCY Management Agency. $800,000 could've provided housing for people who were left homeless after the hurricanes, among other things. Those are REAL emergencies.
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written by Eris , September 22, 2009 - 02:54 am
@ironic

It's kind of ironic that your name is "ironic" but you're not using irony.
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written by Big Pete , September 22, 2009 - 01:07 pm
Maybe they were just barbecuing. I know of a dumb a_ _ that done that before on the bridge
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written by Barry , September 22, 2009 - 03:16 pm
It's obvious that some of these comments were made by people who don't fish. They should get a pole and head to G.I. and use the other fishing pier to relax and chill, instead of looking for reasons to complain about FEMA and our government. Without fishing, Grand Isle would just be an uninhabited Island. Thank you FEMA!! Chronic complainers,go look for something else to whine about!
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written by a fisherman , September 22, 2009 - 04:37 pm
u damn right i started crying when i saw this bridge burning my daddy fished on that bridge and now its gone fishing there brought me so many good memories so screw whoever that says something about that bridge it brought people together period.
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written by jamey lachute from westwego , September 23, 2009 - 03:19 am
been fishing on the bridge for like 30 some years its up setting
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written by jamey lachute from westwego , September 23, 2009 - 03:21 am
been fishing 30 some years its up setting!!!
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written by Buddy , September 23, 2009 - 01:50 pm
Whatever. I'm sticking to my words.
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written by TOMMY , September 25, 2009 - 02:48 pm
I guess Buddy must not go to State parks or Federal parks so per Buddy we need to get rid of Yellow Stone Park. There are very few places where the public has access to good fishing with out a boat. The bridge was free for the public to use. I rode accross that bridge when it was the only bridge. Caught a few fish off of it too. I watched it burn, sad to watch.
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written by Cajun Major , October 14, 2009 - 06:06 pm
What do you expect when you have a bunch of cajuns on a bridge with matches.... Somebody gonna get burned. $800k gone of my tax dollars but no worse than all those voters voting for OBAMA and now gonna have to pay for his new health care plan. Need to give all "yall" cajuns an "At-A-Boy"!!!!!!
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