Burn Ban In Effect Because Of Dry Conditions: Sarasota County

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — A burn ban is in effect because of drought conditions and an increased chance of fire hazards, Sarasota County said in a Sunday news release.

Burn bans automatically go into effect and prohibit almost all open burning when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) meets or exceeds 500 under Sarasota County law.

All outdoor burning is prohibited unless a permit has been issued. The ban applies to the unincorporated areas of the county and the city of Sarasota.

Exceptions to the ban include cooking on barbeque grills or pits that don’t exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height or any other valid state- or county-authorized burn, the county said.

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

• Create three zones of defensible space around homes and businesses.
• 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.

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