SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — A burn ban was issued Saturday for Sarasota County due to local drought conditions and an increased chance of fire hazards.
Under Sarasota County’s burn ban ordinance, all outdoor burning is prohibited unless a permit has been issued, according to the Sarasota County Fire Department.
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The ban applies to both the unincorporated areas of Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota.
However, officials said residents can still cook on barbeque grills or pits, as long as they do not exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
Burn bans automatically go into effect in Sarasota County when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) meets or exceeds 500. The index serves as a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of soil and increases for each day without rain.
The ban will be lifted once the drought index falls below 500 for seven consecutive days, according to the fire department.