Drought conditions increase chance of fire hazards, Fire Department points out
A burn ban has been put into effect for Sarasota County because of local drought conditions and an increased chance of fire hazards, the Sarasota County Fire Department announced on Dec. 28.
“Under Sarasota County’s burn ban ordinance (Sarasota County Code Section 58-2), burn bans automatically go into effect countywide and prohibit almost all open burning when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) meets or exceeds 500, a news release explains.
“The Keetch-Byram drought index (KBDI) is a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the soil and duff layers,” a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services webpage points out. “The index increases for each day without rain (the amount of increase depends on the daily high temperature) and decreases when it rains. The scale ranges from 0 (no moisture deficit) to 800. 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 webpage adds.
“For different soil types,” the webpage continues, “the depth of soil required to hold 8 inches of moisture varies (30 inches of loam is required, 25 inches of clay is required, and 80 inches of sand is required). A prolonged drought (high KBDI) influences fire intensity largely because more fuel is available for combustion (i.e., fuels have a lower moisture content). In addition, the drying of organic material in the soil can lead to increased difficulty in fire suppression.”
As of Dec. 29, The Sarasota News Leader found, the mean KBDI index for Sarasota County was 509. The minimum was 435, while the maximum was 547, a state chart showed.
In comparison that day, the mean index for Manatee County was 506, with a minimum of 450 and a maximum of 548.
On Jan. 7, the Sarasota County mean index was 528, while the minimum was 459 and the maximum was 565.
The same day, Manatee County’s mean index had climbed to 515.
“All outdoor burning is prohibited unless a permit has been issued,” the county Fire Department release adds. The ban applies not only to the unincorporated areas of Sarasota County but also to the city of Sarasota.
Exceptions to the ban include cooking on barbeque grills or in pits that do not exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, “or any other valid state or county-authorized burn,” the news release says.
The burn ban automatically will be lifted after the drought index falls below 500 for seven consecutive days, the release points out. “This announcement will be made on the county website, scgov.net; on Sarasota County social media pages; and through the news media, the release adds.
In early May, the Fire Department also implemented a burn ban. At that time, the county’s mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index value was 525, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported. That ban was lifted on June 17.
The Jan. 3 Water Resource Monthly Update released by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) showed that the aquifer level for the southernmost counties within the District — including Sarasota — was at the 40th percentile as of Dec. 31. The previous week, the figure was 46. However, for the same date in 2023, the aquiver level was at the 55th percentile.
Leaders of the Sarasota County Fire Department are asking “all residents to stay vigilant during these dry conditions and to take the following actions to protect their families and homes from fire danger,” the release says:
- “Create three zones of defensible space around your home or business.
- “Clear trash and dead vegetation from the yard.
- “Remove leaves and debris from roof, gutters and under decks.
- “Have a plan and an emergency preparedness kit packed in case you need to evacuate quickly, especially if your home is near wildlands.
- “Monitor local media for updates on road closures, smoke conditions and other hazards.
- “Use extreme caution when grilling, camping and discarding cigarettes.”
- Do not use anything — such as lawn mowers — “that may create sparks outside on dry, windy days.
- “If you see something, say something! Call 911 if you see fire in your area.
“Should a wildfire occur,” the release points out, residents who live near the scene are urged to follow the directions from the Fire Department, which could include evacuations.
For more information, the release says, call 311 in Sarasota County or visit scgov.net/fire.