Sarasota County lifts burn ban as wildfire risk declines

Sarasota County residents can resume outdoor burning after improving drought conditions lowered the risk of wildfires.

By Chris Thomas July 16, 2026 · 11:45 am 1 min read

Photo by Matt Palmer / Unsplash

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.