MURDOCK — The Charlotte County Commission voted Tuesday to end its months-long burn ban that prohibits outdoor recreational fires and fireworks.
The ban had been in place since April 28 when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index indicated severe danger from wildfires due to drought conditions. A previous county ban on burning had been in place from December 2025 through most of March 2026.
Charlotte County Fire Chief Matt McElroy said he was glad to see the drought index number trending down, “with all the rain that we have.”
“As you know, we had a dry June and moving into the July, we’ve gotten a lot of rain, not near as much as out west or up north, but we are getting the rain that we need,” McElroy said Tuesday.
The measure passed unanimously.
“Although I’ve only had 1 inch of rain in my house in the last two weeks, I’ll move approval of the resolution,” Commissioner Ken Doherty said.
The rainy season has begun in Florida, meaning the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is showing lower danger of wildfire than it had in June.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Sarasota County ended its burn ban July 12, with a notice from the county’s fire chief. Unlike Charlotte County, Sarasota County has its ban set to the Keetch-Byram index.
Charlotte County also uses the index, but for a ban to be put in place or lifted, the County Commission must vote.
DeSoto County ended its burn ban July 14; the city of North Port ended its ban July 20.
Charlotte County had discussed ending its burn ban twice in recent weeks, once on June 22, and again on July 2, just days ahead of Fourth of July celebrations.
Both times the commissioners decided to leave the ban in place, citing the potential danger of brush fires during those periods.