Sarasota, Manatee drop burn ban

Thanks to recent rains, Sarasota County’s burn ban has been lifted as of July 12.

The burn ban issued by Sarasota County Fire Department, which prohibited non-permitted open burns, ended when the Keech Bryan Drought Index fell below 500 for seven consecutive days, reducing the wildfire threat.

Manatee County rescinded its ban on outdoor burning last week.

Both county's bans were in effect during the Independence Day holiday, putting a damper on the legal use of personal fireworks.

The KBDI scale ranges from 0  — which indicates no moisture deficit — to 800. High values of the KBDI are an indication that conditions are favorable for the occurrence and spread of wildfires. According to the Florida Department of Agriclture, KDFI ranges are:

• 0–200: High soil moisture: fuels are generally too wet to contribute much to fire intensity.
• 201–400: Soils and surface litter are drying; moderate fire danger.
• 401–600: Dry conditions where ground cover and lower duff layers actively burn. Duff is the spongy layer of partially decomposed organic material such as leaves, twigs, bark and pine needles that accumulate on the forest floor.
• 601–800: Severe drought associated with intense, deep-burning wildfires and rapid fire spread.

Fire department officials will continue to monitor conditions. Residents are reminded to take precautions to protect from fire danger and follow local open burning ordinance rules and regulations 

For  information and tips to protect your property from wildfires, visit scgov.net/fire.