The warmer weather over the past few months has created tinder-dry conditions in parts of the province and officials are asking the public to be careful when disposing of smoking materials.

It could hit 27 degrees in Calgary on Tuesday and temperatures are expected to stay in the twenties for the rest of the week.

Above average temperatures and low moisture increases the risk for grass fires and fire officials are hoping everyone will do their part to reduce the risk.

“Definitely around the city there have been a number of grass fires, but hopefully Calgarians are doing their part to reduce the risk,” said Carole Henke, Public Information Officer, Calgary Fire Department. “Everyone needs to use extreme caution.“

Henke says people need use caution when disposing of smoking materials.

 “Unfortunately, some people who smoke are under the impression that they’re safe to put cigarette butts in flower beds, in planter pots, thinking that it’s just dirt and that’s a safe place to extinguish your cigarettes, it is not. The fire department responds to so many fires that have the potential to grow extremely large and endanger people’s lives, that have started in planter pots and they smoulder for a long time and the fires that start outside of buildings are very, very dangerous because for the fire to get to a point where it gets inside and activates your smoke alarm, it’s already so large you basically have seconds to get out of your house. So a real strong reminder, if you smoke please make sure you do not dispose of your cigarettes in any sort of vegetation, any sort of dirt, if plants can grow in it don’t put your butts in it,” said Henke.

Henke says a cigarette butt can smoulder in a planter for hours and then ignite when least expected.

“It’s organic matter and it will burn, It will smoulder for a long time and then two o’clock in the morning all of a sudden you’ve got a fire that can destroy a home, several homes, or a condominium building,” She said. “Typically these types of fires, we see pop up in the middle of the night, which is the most dangerous time for a fire. So really, people need to be aware of that. Make sure that you have a non-combustible, sand and water filled container that has a narrow mouth on it so that the wind isn’t going to take the cigarette butt and carry it somewhere else and please do not throw your cigarette butts out of your vehicle window onto the road because the wind can take that as well and carry it onto a grassy area, which will burn.”

Parts of the province are under fire advisories and in many wooded areas fire pits are also off limits.

For the latest fire advisories, restrictions and bans, click HERE.