Many good things come with the rain that began yesterday evening. Thirsty crops and lawns will be lapping it up, and we'll also be able to use our backyard firepits between raindrops.

Today at noon, Cochrane Fire Chief Shawn Polley has downgraded the fire ban to a fire advisory within town limits.

"With the lower temperatures and what looks to be a whole week of rain in the forecast, the chief has decided to drop the fire ban to a fire advisory, effective noon today," says Cochrane Fire Inspector Jeff Avery.

Avery says it remains a bit dry, but the forecast is for rain all week. Still, residents should use due diligence.

"You can use your briquette barbecues, you can have a backyard pit, you can use your smoker, so all that stuff has been lifted. An advisory is telling us to make sure that we're still using extreme precautions. It's still a little bit dry, but it definitely helps."

Cochrane Fire Services salutes residents for how they responded to the extremely dry conditions of late and the prolonged fire ban.

"We just want to thank the residents of Cochrane because we didn't respond to a single backyard fire complaint, which is just outstanding."

Rocky View County has also reduced its fire ban to an advisory.