BANFF – The fire danger in Banff National Park and neighbouring Kananaskis Country has climbed to extreme.
As fire danger went to extreme on Monday (July 24), wildfire experts say the smoke blanketing the Bow Valley is wafting in from out-of-control wildfires in neighbouring British Columbia.
The Town of Canmore's fire hazard is considered very high.
Anastasia Drummond, with Alberta Forestry and Parks, said there are no active wildfires or detections in this area.
“We do have reports of smoke crossing over from wildfires in British Columbia,” she said.
The average wildfire danger in the Calgary Forest Area (CFA) is now extreme, particularly in the southern portions of the area.
Earlier in the afternoon Monday, there were reports of smoke in the Mount Shark area in K-Country.
“Our crews were already on active patrols so they confirmed that the source of the smoke was not in our jurisdiction,” said Drummond.
“We currently have no active wildfire in the Calgary Forest Area.”
Drummond said extremely warm temperatures are persisting throughout the region.
“Combined with low relative humidity and a very low likelihood of precipitation, it is expected that the wildfire danger will remain extreme for the foreseeable future,” she said in a July 24 bulletin.
“Wildfires that ignite in these conditions have the potential to grow quickly and exhibit volatile fire behaviour.”
The fire advisory for the CFA, which went into effect on July 20 remains in effect. The CFA includes the Bow Valley outside of Banff National Park and neighbouring Kananaskis Country too.
This means that any burning without a valid fire permit, other than a campfire in both designated campgrounds and random camping areas.
“Although campfires are still currently allowed in the CFA, this may change in the coming days,” Drummond said.
The CFA has responded to 40 wildfires this season which have burned 4.96 hectares. They have all been extinguished.
Since Jan. 1, there have been 905 wildfires recorded in the Forest Protection Area of Alberta that have burned 1,762,501.32 hectares.
There are currently 133 active wildfires throughout the province. Of those, 20 are classified as out of control, 50 are being held and 63 are under control. For the latest information about wildfires: www.alberta.ca/wildfire-status.
