Someone is deliberately setting fires to grass and hay bales in southern Manitoba, say RCMP.

Since Nov. 11, several blazes have been started near the community of Elm Creek, about 50 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

At least nine fires near Highway 2 and Highway 13 have been reported to the Carman RCMP. The Elm Creek Fire Department has extinguished fires some while area farmers have put out several others.

The fires have been started in dead grass alongside roads and on private property, RCMP said, noting the latest incident occurred Nov. 22 just northwest of Elm Creek.

Manitoba's unusually warm fall weather has been causing problems in some southern areas of the province. Last week, a number of grass and brush fires were burning near Portage la Prairie, about 70 kilometres west of Winnipeg.

There has been very little moisture in southern Manitoba since the start of fall and daytime temperatures have been between about 15 C above normal.

The normal daytime high for this time of year is -5 C but this year temperatures have been closer to 10 C and higher.

Police are requesting the public's assistance in finding the suspects responsible for the Elm Creek fires. Anyone with information is asked to call the Carman RCMP at 204-745-6760 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.