Wildfire Conditions & Burn Ban FAQ

firefighter walking through smoke
 
The City of North Port outdoor burn ban was rescinded on July 20, 2026

The City of North Port's outdoor burning ban has been rescinded and is no longer in effect.

Residents are encouraged to review the guidelines on what outdoor burning is permitted.

For more information, contact North Port Fire Rescue at 941-240-8150.

 

The Florida Forest Service is the lead agency for the suppression of wildfires. Learn the most current information on the status of wildfires throughout the State, from the Florida Forest Service.

View several suggestions which you can implement immediately to protect your house from wildfire.

View information on how to make your home FireWise.

What is a burn ban?

A burn ban prohibits all bonfires, campfires, and outdoor burning of yard debris within City limits. It is based on information from the Keetch-Bryam Drought Index. 

The Keetch-Byram drought index (KBDI) is a continuous reference scale used by the Division of Forestry for estimating the dryness of the soil and duff layers. 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 (extremely dry). 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.

For different soil types, the depth of soil required to hold 8 inches of moisture varies (loam=30", clay=25" and sand=80"). 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.

High values of the KBDI are an indication that conditions are favorable for the occurrence and spread of wildfires, but drought is not by itself a prerequisite for wildfires. Other weather factors, such as wind, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric stability, play a major role in determining the actual fire danger.

 

Water restrictions in place until Oct. 1

General information

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) extended its modified phase III "extreme" water shortage restrictions through Oct. 1. 

Lawn watering days and times

Lawn water schedule

  • Lawn and landscape watering remains limited to a once-per-week schedule.
  • Residents should check with their city or county for their allowable day and times as many have different schedules or stricter hours in effect. Below is the standard watering days schedule based on addresses ending in:
    • 0 or 1 shall only water on Monday
    • 2 or 3, on Tuesday
    • 4 or 5, on Wednesday
    • 6 or 7, on Thursday
    • 8 or 9, on Friday along with locations with a mix of addresses or for which an address cannot be determined (such as common areas associated with a subdivision)
  • Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, watering hours are reduced to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows.
  • Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
  • The restrictions apply to residents on private wells however, reclaimed water is only subject to voluntary watering hours, unless restricted by the local government or utility.
Wildland fire danger index

The Florida Forest Service uses the Wildland Fire Danger Index (FDI) for estimating the potential for a fire to start and require suppression action on any given day.

It does not consider how quickly any fires that do start will grow, or how difficult they will be to suppress.

 

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