Sarasota County faces a risk of wildfire due to the mix of urban areas, natural lands, and fire-dependent ecosystems. Sarasota County Fire Department personnel train and partner closely with area fire departments and the Florida Forest Service to ensure that as the risk for wildfires increases, departments have the resources needed to respond to a potential wildfire. SCFD monitors conditions daily and will alter operations and response levels for outside fires as needed to protect and serve the Sarasota County community.

Listen to local officials when evacuations are called. Do not wait, leave immediately if an evacuation has been called for your area.  

The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is the area where houses meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland vegetation. 

As emergency responders prepare for wildfire, so should residents. Take steps to protect your property. These efforts can also aid firefighters in their response to potential wildfires to keep them safe while also mitigating possible loss of property.

For information on current wildfires, active burn bans, or mitigation contacts, visit the Florida Forest Service website.

Sarasota County is at high risk for wildfires due to the current drought conditions.

Sign up now for a presentation by Sarasota County Fire Department officials to learn more about:

• Wildfire risk assessment.
• Home hardening and defensible space.
• Emergency preparedness and evacuation planning.

Take action now and request a presentation for your group or community here. 

Create defensible space and hardening your home.

• Within 30 feet of your home,  clear all dead vegetation, leaves, and debris from roofs, gutters, decks, and ground. Use non-flammable materials; mow grass short; space plants and remove ladders (e.g., vines on walls).
• Reduce fuels within 100 feet your home; thin trees, prune branches 6-10 feet up and remove dead material.
• Further reduce density in heavy wildland areas.
• Harden your home with Class A fire-rated roofs, screen vents with 1/8-inch mesh, install smoke alarms and extinguishers.
• Keep firewood stacked away from structures, maintain irrigation, and avoid flammable mulch near structures.

What to Do If There Is a Wildfire in Your Area

• Stay Informed: Sign up for AlertSarasotaCounty, monitor FFS active wildfire maps, and follow local authorities on social media.
• If Evacuation is Ordered:
• Go early—do not delay.
• Follow designated routes; have multiple plans.
• Take your emergency kit, pets, important documents, and essentials.
• Secure your home if time allows: Close windows/doors, leave lights on for visibility, turn off gas if instructed.
• During a Fire: Stay indoors if it is safe to do so. Avoid smoke exposure.
• After a Fire: Wait for official notification that it is safe to return. Check for hot spots and structural damage.

The Ready, Set, Go! program, developed by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), helps residents in wildland-urban interface areas prepare for wildfires. It emphasizes early action to improve safety for families and firefighters.

• Ready: Prepare your home and family long before a fire threat.
• Harden your home (e.g., fire-resistant materials, clear debris).
• Create a family evacuation plan, assemble an emergency kit, and stay informed via local alerts.
• Landscape with fire-resistant plants and maintain defensible space.
• Set: Be alert when a fire is in the area and situational awareness increases.
• Monitor local media, emergency notifications, and fire conditions.
• Pack essentials, prepare vehicles, and get ready to leave.
• Go: Evacuate early when advised—do not wait for a mandatory order.
• Leave immediately to avoid traffic and ensure firefighter access.
• Early evacuation saves lives and allows firefighters to focus on containment.

For more details, visit the Ready, Set, Go! website.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) measures soil and vegetation dryness to assess the potential for wildfire. It ranges from 0 (no drought, saturated soil) to 800 (extreme drought, high fire risk).

• 0-200: Low fire danger.
• 200-400: Moderate.
• 400-600: High.
• 600-800: Extreme—fires start easily and spread rapidly.

*Note: Sarasota County’s burn bans are automatically enacted when the KBDI reaches 500. The burn ban will end when the KBDI falls below 500 for seven consecutive days.

The Florida Fire Service updates KBDI daily using rainfall, temperature, and radar data. Check current conditions on the Florida Forest Service website, especially during Florida's peak fire season (January-May). Higher KBDI values often lead to burn bans or restrictions in Sarasota County.

Wildland Fire Danger Index (FDI): This daily rating estimates the potential for fires to start, spread, and require suppression. It incorporates weather, fuel conditions, and other factors, categorized as Low, Moderate, High, Very High, or Extreme.

This, along with the KBDI, is used by SCFD to determine whether increased response levels and resources could be needed for outside fire calls to help them from spreading.

Learn more about the FDI here. 

Prescribed burns are a critical tool used by the Florida Forest Service and Sarasota County to manage ecosystems and reduce wildfire risk. These planned fires mimic natural processes in Florida's fire-adapted landscapes, such as pine flatwoods and scrub. These do not impact the wildland urban interface, these burns are focused on natural areas. On average, Sarasota County conducts 60 permitted prescribed burns per year on county lands. Prescribed burns are planned and coordinated by certified and highly trained Emergency Services staff in coordination with Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources staff, to ensure that public safety and the health of the ecosystem is the highest priority. Sarasota County maintains approximately 40,000 acres of protected land. Each year, staff conducts prescribed burns on about 7,000 to 11,000 acres. All burns are permitted and overseen by the Florida Forest Service, conducted by certified professionals under safe weather conditions.

Benefits:

• Reduce accumulated fuels (dead vegetation, leaves, and brush) that could fuel intense wildfires.
• Promote native plant growth, improve wildlife habitat, and maintain biodiversity.
• Protect homes and communities by lowering the risk of uncontrolled fires.

Learn more about prescribed burns at Sarasota County’s Fire Fest, held during Prescribed Burn Awareness Week in January.