(with files from swiftcurrentonline.com)

Environment Canada is expecting areas with little snow cover, like the southwest, will see significantly higher daytime highs in the warming trend this week but that lack of snow cover has led to another problem – grass fires.

Firefighters believe a pair of grass fires in the RM of Piapot were sparked by a passing train.

Dave Zoerb, foreman for the RM of Piapot and a member of the local fire crew, said the first fire was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, just east of Sidewood Grid near the RM boundary.

Zoerb said firefighters were able to bring the fire under control with assistance from the Tompkins Fire Department. However, crews were called back several hours later when another flare-up was reported.

He says the call came around three o’clock in the morning after another flare up. While both incidents were handled quickly, Zoerb noted the timing of the fires is unusual for early February.

He said, “Usually we’ve got lots of snow and stuff. It’s not usually a typical situation that we’re seeing fires already.”

Environment Canada says Swift Current tied for second driest January on record with only 1.3 millimeters of precipitation.