State index used to trigger ban falls below necessary figure for 7 straight days
The burn ban that the Sarasota County Fire Department issued on Oct. 11, 2025 — which prohibited unpermitted open burns in Sarasota County — was lifted as of April 14.
“The ban was lifted as the Keetch-Byram Drought Index fell below 500 for seven consecutive days, reducing the wildfire threat in Sarasota County,” a news release said.
As the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services explains on its website, “The Keetch-Byram drought index (KBDI) is a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the soil and duff layers. The range of the index is determined by assuming that there is 8 inches of moisture in a saturated soil that is readily available to the vegetation.”
The KDBI summary for all Florida counties on April 14 showed Sarasota at 461. In contrast, Manatee County’s figure was 396, while the Charlotte County number was 341. Hillsborough County’s figure was 513.
Although the county ban has been lifted, Fire Department personnel are urging the public to exercise “extreme caution,” noting that “the majority of the county continues to experience drought conditions and a burn ban could be reinstated in the coming weeks due to deficient levels of rain in the forecast.”
Effective as of April 3, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) placed Sarasota and neighboring counties under what the organization calls a “Modified Phase III ‘Extreme’ Water Shortage” because of ongoing drought conditions. Watering restrictions are in place through July 1.
The Sarasota County Water Atlas rainfall data notes that total rainfall in 2025 was 37.75 inches. The average annual rainfall for the county, it says, is 52.04 inches.
“Sarasota County Fire Department officials will continue to monitor conditions,” the release points out. “Residents are reminded to take precautions to protect themselves from fire danger and follow local open burning ordinance rules and regulations as outlined in Sarasota County Code Section 54-116,” the release adds.
“With drought conditions expected to continue across Sarasota County,” the release points out, “burn bans are automatically placed into effect when the KDBI meets or exceeds 500.” Residents should keep monitoring information from the county, in the event the ban has to be imposed again, the release adds.
Fire Department leaders also are urging the public to be prepared for wildfires at any time “by utilizing the Ready, Set Go! method:
- “Be Ready — Have a plan for possible evacuation with your household and take steps to protect your property by creating defensible space around your home.
- “Get Set — Gather your emergency supplies, communicate with family and household members, and stay informed” through local news media outlets, as well as the Sarasota County Government website and social media.
- Go — If evacuations are called because of wildfire activity, “leave immediately and enact your emergency plans. “
For more information and tips to protect your property from wildfires, visit scgov.net/fire.