Newsroom

Sarasota County media relations officers are in the office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and rotate on-call and after-hours response.

Media outlets may submit queries through email, news@scgov.net, or by phone, 941-861-6397. 

For general questions and information, residents and visitors should call 311 when in Sarasota County, or 941-861-5000 when outside county limits. 

Sarasota County Fire Department issued burn ban lifted

Post Date:06/17/2024 2:00 PM

SARASOTA COUNTY - The burn ban issued by Sarasota County Fire Department, which prohibited unpermitted open burns in Sarasota County has been lifted as of June 17. 

The ban was lifted as the Keech Bryan Drought Index fell below 500 for seven consecutive days, reducing the wildfire threat in Sarasota County.

Initially enacted on May 5, the ban automatically took effect when the KBDI for Sarasota County reached 500,according to Sarasota County Code Section 58-2. 

Sarasota County Fire Department officials will continue to monitor conditions. 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.

For more information and tips to protect your property from wildfires, call 311 in Sarasota County or visit scgov.net/fire. 

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Sarasota County Municipalities

City of Sarasota Email: news@sarasotafl.gov
City of Venice Email: landerson@venicefl.gov
City of North Port Email: jbartolone@northportfl.gov
Town of Longboat Key Email: tadams@longboatkey.org

Regional Public Safety Organizations

Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Email: Dana.Judge@SarasotaSheriff.org
Sarasota Police Department   Website: https://www.sarasotapd.org/media-news-releases/public-information-office
North Port Fire Department Email: dingalls@northportfl.gov
North Port Police Department Email: jtaylor@northportpdfl.gov
Englewood Fire Department Email: tdunn@englewood-fire.com
City of Venice Fire / Police Department Email: landerson@venicefl.gov
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Email: Randy.Warren@manateesheriff.com
Bradenton Police Department Email: Meredith.Censullo@BradentonPD.com
HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital  Email: monica.yadav@hcahealthcare.com
Sarasota Memorial Hospital  Email: news@smh.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Website: https://myfwc.com/news/contacts/
Florida Forest Service  Email: Patrick.Mahoney@FreshFromFlorida.com
Florida Highway Patrol Website: https://www.flhsmv.gov/news/meet-the-team/office-of-public-affairs/
DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office  Email: nthurek@desotosheriff.org

Additional Communications / Public Information Officer Resources

Department of Health – Sarasota County Email: DOHSarasotaNews@FLHealth.gov
Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller  Email: clkinfo@sarasotaclerkandcomptroller.com 
Sarasota County Tax Collector Email: Info@SarasotaTaxCollector.gov
Sarasota County Property Appraiser  Email: bloughrey@sc-pa.com
Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Email: pdonnelly@sarasotavotes.gov
Sarasota County Schools  Website: https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/page/departmental-contacts-communications-and-government-affairs
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Email: susan.reimann@flysrq.com
Visit Sarasota  Website: https://www.visitsarasota.com/media-room
Manatee County Government  Email: NEWS@mymanatee.org
Charlotte County Government  Email: Brian.Gleason@CharlotteCountyFL.gov
DeSoto County Government Email: info@desotobocc.com