The RM of Morse has put a fire ban in effect for the entire municipality due to dry conditions.

The ban was issued this afternoon, and includes everything from fire pits to household garbage containers to controlled burns to fireworks.

"We had a council meeting this morning and decided that we need to implement another ban," said RM Administrator Mark Wilson. "We have had a couple of small fires here in the last couple weeks, and certainly they could have gotten out of control quite easily due to the conditions, as they get dried every day. The fire department was out I think Friday night to a vehicle fire, so they're busy enough without having to go to man-made fires if we don't have to."

Wilson said the ban they had last year seemed to work quite well. He said one of the fires that popped up in the last couple weeks appeared to be from a cigarette butt thrown out of a car window, or something like that. He attributed the other to stuff falling out of a vehicle onto dry grass and igniting the grass.

There's been precipitation in the area today, but Wilson figured they'll need a fair bit more.

"It would appear we're going to need a substantial amount of rain - probably several inches - to soak up the ground, otherwise it's going to remain quite dry."

The ban will stay in place until further notice.