- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Sarasota Lifts Burn Ban as Drought Conditions Improve
Fire officials cite declining drought index as reason to end restrictions
Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:53am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
As drought conditions ease in Sarasota, the lifting of a burn ban offers a glimmer of hope for the region's natural landscapes.Sarasota TodaySarasota County, Florida has lifted its burn ban as of April 14 after the Keetch-Byram Drought Index remained below 500 for a week, indicating reduced fire risk in the region. Fire officials made the decision to end the restrictions due to the improved drought conditions.
Why it matters
Burn bans are a common measure taken by local authorities during periods of severe drought to mitigate the risk of wildfires. The lifting of the ban in Sarasota suggests that the region's drought conditions have eased, providing some relief after an extended period of dry weather.
The details
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index is a widely used metric that measures soil moisture and fire risk on a scale from 0 to 800, with higher numbers indicating drier conditions. Sarasota County officials had implemented the burn ban when the index rose above 500, signaling a heightened threat of wildfires. After a week of the index staying below that threshold, they determined it was safe to lift the restrictions.
- The burn ban was lifted on April 14, 2026.
- The Keetch-Byram Drought Index had remained below 500 for a week prior to the ban being lifted.
The players
Sarasota County
The local government authority responsible for implementing and lifting the burn ban in the region.
The takeaway
The lifting of the burn ban in Sarasota County is a positive sign that the region's drought conditions have improved, reducing the risk of wildfires. This development provides some relief to residents and businesses that had been impacted by the previous restrictions.
