“I don’t like snow in April any more than anyone else, but I do appreciate the precipitation.”

While Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says he would have preferred rain, this spring has been much dryer than average and more moisture was badly needed to slow the growing risk of grass fires.

“It is a bit of a blessing for us at this point,” says Wiebe still reluctant to let go of the summery conditions. “and I do expect it will have a significant effect.”

For Wiebe and his team of firefighters, the drought has not meant a significant increase in calls as responsible farmers and favourable winds minimized any blazes that could have turned up the heat. In the RM of Taché, however, fire crews were constantly reminded of how parched the land was.

“We responded to our earliest grass fire since our fire department started keeping records,” says Fire Chief Allan Rau, referencing a wildfire that tore through past the community of Ross in mid-March.

e also allowed under a burning permit. Meanwhile, Hanover may also loosen restrictions soon if the proves as advantageous as hoped. Wiebe says he will assess the moisture levels once the snow begins to melt and inform his municipality from there.