The cooler temperatures and recent rainfall have lead to a decrease in grass fire responses for the Okotoks Fire Department.

This past week the department responded to 18 calls, one of which was a grass fire.

Ken Thevenot, Okotoks fire chief, says conditions have improved locally.

"The cooler weather and the extra precipitation we've had in the last couple of weeks definitely helped out with our grass fire situation and it's really greened up the grass in a lot of areas so that's taken our numbers down on the grass fires."

According to Thevenot, grass fire numbers for the year are down so far compared to last year.

He says the worst of grass fire season should be over.

"I don't think we ever really see the end of it but we hope that when it greens up and we get a little bit more moisture that the numbers go down," explains Thevenot. "I'd say our main grass fire season is probably March, April, May... those are probably our highest numbers in the year."

Other incidents the department responded to this past week include motor vehicle collisions, an alarm system activation, a fire pit complaint, a fire, medical responses, public assistance, and a rescue.