Over 500 people attend Sarasota County Fire Department’s 11th annual ‘Fire Fest’

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota County Fire Department and 20 vendors took over the Carlton Reserve in Venice on Saturday for the 11th annual Fire Fest.

Crews set off controlled blazes to educate the community about prescribed burns and why they are important.

Visitors were able to hear presentations about the benefits of fire to native habitats and wildlife too.

They also enjoyed meals, s’mores, hayrides, face painting and more.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office even brought out their helicopter and explained how it helps fight fires along with their K-9 unit.

“We try to do them to enhance the habitat for the plants and animals, then we also do them to enhance the vegetation shape for wildfires so if we do get a wildfire, we can help contain it,” said Jay Bailey, the Mitigation Officer for the Sarasota County Fire Department. “We do about 60 prescribed burns a year.”

For more information about Sarasota County and their prescribed burns, click here.