Another three rural municipalities west of Moose Jaw have issued fire bans. The RMs of Eyebrow, Wheatlands and Morse are the latest to ban open fires as a growing concern of prairie fire spreads. 

Mark Wilson, Administrator for the R.M. of Morse, explains that a lack of moisture in the region is the main reason behind the decision.

"It's extremely dry and a lot of slough areas are drying up too," he said. "There is some concern that farmers may decide to burn them so they can get them ready for seeding next year. In the R.M. there are large tracts of grasslands, so if a fire were to get away, we'd had a hard time trying to contain it."

He also added that if conditions continue to stay dry, council will looking at placing a similar ban in the town of Morse. Currently, the town of Morse prohibits any fire that isn't in a fire pit.

The R.M. of Wheatlands includes the areas around other Highway 1 communities like Parkbeg and Mortlach, though the ban does not include the town of Mortlach.