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The RM of Lake of the Rivers issued a fire ban for all lands within the municipality’s boundaries. The fire ban took effect immediately as of July 7 and will run until August 18. The council will assemble in August to review the ban’s extension or cancellation. 

The RM office noted that, in the meantime, if the RM receives significant rain sooner, the ban could be reviewed and lifted. The ban calls for no burning of any kind like burning stubble or incineration not on a gravel concrete pad, fireworks, open pit fires or fire rings. 

The RM’s councillors made the decision in light of the weather conditions – high temperatures and no rain – as well as in keeping with surrounding RMs. Other RMs such as Excel and Stonehenge, Bengough, Gravelbourg and Wood Mountain moved to institute fire bans as well.

While the Lake of the Rivers doesn’t have any campgrounds, some regional parks have also instituted fire bans. The Wood Mountain Regional Park issued a fire ban as of July 6 ahead of the popular Wood Mountain Stampede and Rodeo. No open flames or fireworks are allowed in the park which is tinder dry. Propane firepits are allowed, but not provided.

In July temperatures in Assiniboia and area have reached above 30 C compounded by little to no rainfall since June. This has put a strain on cattle and crops as well as anyone working outdoors. Environment Canada issued a heat warning for Assiniboia and area. 

Temperatures have rivaled the historical temperatures from the 1930s, which averaged the high 20s and low 30s, and from the 1980s when some daily temperatures in July hit 40 C. Assiniboia saw a maximum temperature of 36.6 C on July 8 and a weekly average for the week of July 9 of 34 C. Temperatures are projected to be in the 30s for most of the rest of July. 

Meanwhile, residents in Rockglen and as far as Assiniboia were shaken by shocks from a magnitude 5.8 earthquake that hit western Montana around 12:30 a.m. The epicenter was in Lincoln and is the biggest earthquake in the region in the last two decades, reported the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremors and aftershocks were felt into southwest Saskatchewan and southern Alberta.