Sarasota County Burn Ban In Place: Fire Officials

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — A burn ban has been put in place in Sarasota County because of dry conditions and an increased chance of fire hazards, officials said in a news release.

Under the county’s burn ban ordinance, burn bans automatically go into effect countywide and prohibit almost all open burning when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which estimates the dryness of soil and meets or exceeds 500.

All outdoor burning is prohibited unless a permit has been issued and is applicable for the unincorporated areas of Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota, officials said.

Exceptions to this include cooking on barbeque grills or pits that are no more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high, or any other valid state or county-authorized burn.

The burn ban will automatically lift after the drought index falls below 500 for seven consecutive days.

The Sarasota County Fire Department offers residents the following tips to protect their families and homes from fire danger during the burn ban:

• Create three zones of defensible space around your home or business.
• Clear trash and dead vegetation from the yard.
• Remove leaves and debris from roof, gutters and under decks.
• Have a plan and an emergency preparedness kit packed in case you need to evacuate quickly, especially if your home is near wildlands.
• Monitor local media for updates on road closures, smoke conditions and other hazards.
• Use extreme caution when grilling, camping and discarding cigarettes.
• Don’t use anything, such as lawn mowers, that may create sparks outside on dry, windy days.
• Call 911 if you see fire in your area.

For more information, call 311 in Sarasota County or visit scgov.net/fire.