SARASOTA, Fla. — A burn ban is in effect in Sarasota County amid worsening drought conditions and higher chances of fire hazards.
No outdoor burning is allowed unless a person has been issued a permit and is in unincorporated areas of the county and the city of Sarasota, the county said in a statement.
Other exceptions include cooking on barbeque grills or pits as long as they don't exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
The area's burn ban ordinance prohibits burning when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index reaches at least 500 units. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor's latest data, all of Sarasota County is considered abnormally dry. A moderate drought has developed across parts of eastern Florida.
While the ban is in effect, Sarasota County Fire Department is offering the following tips to stay safe from dangerous flames:
- Create three zones of defensible space in your home (immediate zone, intermediate zone and extended zone)
- Remove trash and dead vegetation from your yard
- Get rid of leaves and debris from your roof, gutters and under decks
- Get an emergency preparedness kit ready incases of evacuation
- Track any local media reports of road closures, smoke conditions and other hazards
- Use caution while grilling, camping and throwing away cigarettes
- Avoid using anything that can create sparks outside on dry, windy days, such as lawn mowers
- Call 911 if you see a fire in your area
The burn ban will be lifted once the drought index falls below 500 units for seven days straight. County leaders say an announcement of the ban being lifted would be through the government website, county-based social media pages and local news outlets.
If you need more information on Sarasota County's burn ban ordinance, you can call 311 or by clicking or tapping here.