Venice issues recreational burn ban

VENICE — A citywide recreational burn ban has been imposed effective immediately due to dry conditions that increase the risk of wildfire.

Venice Fire Rescue Chief Frank Giddens issued the burn ban Monday morning. The county imposed a similar ban over the weekend.

The city burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning that has not been specifically permitted by the Florida Forest Service, including bonfires, campfires, fire pits, cooking pits and the burning of yard debris, a city news release states.

Outdoor cooking fires in approved gas or charcoal grills is allowed, though residents are urged to use extreme caution regarding them. A grill should never be left unattended, and coals should be completely cooled before disposing of them, it says.

Residents near a wildfire should follow directions from authorities, which may include evacuations of localized areas, the release says.