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# Sarasota County lifts burn ban as wildfire risk declines
- URL: https://tampa-bay-disaster-preparedness-news.ghost.io/sarasota-county-lifts-burn-ban-as-wildfire-risk-declines/
- Published: 2026-07-16T16:45:44.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-16T16:45:44.000Z
- Description: Sarasota County residents can resume outdoor burning after improving drought conditions lowered the risk of wildfires.
- Author: Chris Thomas
- Tags: extreme-heat, News, wildfires, wildfire smoke

Sarasota County Fire Department lifted the countywide burn ban Sunday.

**The latest:**

- Officials said the decision came after the Keetch-Byram Drought Index remained below 500 for seven consecutive days.
- The index measures dryness in soil and vegetation to help determine wildfire danger.

**What changed:**

- The burn ban had restricted outdoor burning across Sarasota County unless residents had approved permits for certain activities.
- Those emergency restrictions are no longer in place.

**What residents should know:**

- Fire officials still urge caution with outdoor fires and remind residents to follow local burning rules.
- Dry conditions, strong winds and changing weather can quickly increase wildfire risk.

**The bottom line:** Sarasota County’s wildfire threat has eased, but officials will continue monitoring drought conditions and could reinstate restrictions if fire danger rises.