Manatee bans burning until next week at earliest

A ban on all outdoor burning and the use of fireworks is now in effect through early next week in Manatee County.

Since Sept. 1, about 2.5 inches of rain have been recorded at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, according to the National Weather Service. In that same period, nearly 9 inches is normal, leading to dry conditions. November is the region’s statistically driest month under normal circumstances.

Emergency managers say the ban includes items containing any "explosive compound," sparklers, any item or product using or containing any amount of pyrotechnic composition, flares, open burning and campfires.

“It’s been a very dry season,” said Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske. “Our Emergency Management Division regularly talks with our Fire Chiefs Association and Forestry, and they are all in agreement that we need to enact a burn ban.”

A similar ban has in place in Sarasota County for three weeks.

Exceptions include:

• Outdoor cookers or grills if they are always attended by a responsible adult while in use.
• Any agricultural or land-clearing burn that has been authorized by the Florida Forest Service and it has been determined that there will be sufficient fire-suppression equipment and personnel on site.
• Properly permitted public fireworks displays with adequate fire-suppression equipment and personnel on site.
• Distress flares launched over the Gulf.

Manatee's burn ban will be in effect until 11:59 p.m., Nov. 11 but could be extended.