Several Southwest Florida municipalities have banned outdoor burning for the second time this year, fearing the ongoing drought -- fueled by above-average temperatures and below-normal rainfall -- has parched the forests and primed them for wildfire.

Sarasota County declared a burn ban for unincorporated parts of the county and the City of Sarasota more than a month ago. Manatee County and North Port activated burn bans last week.

Southwest Florida’s drought has returned to Sarasota and Manatee counties along with the Tampa Bay region, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

It rained just enough this summer to quench the parched soil for a time, but South Florida’s rainy season didn’t deliver. Fort Myers had more than a foot less rain than is typical during the summer storm season.

Mor

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