The National Guard builds a temporary bridge over Bayou Barataria between Jean Lafitte and Barataria on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, after a barge damaged the Leo Kerner Bridge during Hurricane Ida. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

People on boats stop at the Kerner Swing Bridge after they realize they can not go past it 4 days after Hurricane Ida in Jean Lafitte, La., Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The bridge is the only way for cars to travel between Barataria and Jean Lafitte. It was damaged by a barge in the hurricane. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

The National Guard builds a temporary bridge over Bayou Barataria between Jean Lafitte and Barataria on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, after a barge damaged the Leo Kerner Bridge during Hurricane Ida. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

People on boats stop at the Kerner Swing Bridge after they realize they can not go past it 4 days after Hurricane Ida in Jean Lafitte, La., Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The bridge is the only way for cars to travel between Barataria and Jean Lafitte. It was damaged by a barge in the hurricane. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)

When six homes were burning in Barataria last week, firefighters tried in vain to reach them.

First by truck, but the bridge over Bayou Barataria that leads from Jean Lafitte to the area had been knocked out during Hurricane Ida. Then by boat, but the vessel became stuck in vegetation in the bayou.

Finally, Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputies brought in airboats, and the blaze was fought using "floater pumps," devices that float on the surface and draw water from the bayou.

The Kerner Swing Bridge, the only way for vehicles to drive from Jean Lafitte to Barataria, was struck by a barge during Hurricane Ida. 

Hurricane Ida flooded low-lying Jean Lafitte, Crown Point, Barataria and lower Lafitte, where 67 people were rescued from attics, rooftops and overturned boats. To complicate matters, Barataria residents lost their road access when a barge struck the Leo Kerner Bridge, rendering it impassable. 

On Sunday, the Louisiana National Guard began engineering a temporary solution -- building a giant raft to ferry emergency vehicles, including firetrucks and ambulances, across from the Lafitte side to the Barataria side. They've also begun work on a temporary floating bridge, nearly 600 feet long, that will be used until the other one is repaired, said Lt. Col. Jackie Manton, commander of the 205th Engineer Battalion.

The raft is made of five bays tied together with ramps on each end, he said. Crossing the water, the raft is pulled by a boat, navigating the current and storm debris.

By Monday afternoon, dozens of vehicles, including fire trucks, ambulances, parish vehicles and some trucks belonging to local residents had been ferried across.

More than 80 National Guard personnel from the 2225 Multi Role Bridge Co., which is based in Marrero, are on site assisting with the project, Manton said. The temporary bridge was set to be completed by late Wednesday. 

The last time the unit used a rafting operation of this magnitude was the oil spill in 2010, when a similarly engineered raft hauled equipment and people to surrounding barrier islands in the Barataria Bay for 11 months, Manton said.

"The National Guard is here to help," 1st Lt. Stephen McCoppin said in a video posted to the Jefferson Parish government's social media. "A lot of the guys here in the unit are from the local area so we're glad to come out and help our community."

Marie Fazio writes for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email her at MFazio@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter @mariecfazio.

To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here.

Firefighters tried to reach it by boat but got stuck on vegetation

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

News Tips: newstips@theadvocate.com

Other questions: subscriberservices@theadvocate.com