The Kenow fire now burning in Waterton Lakes National Park grew by 50 per cent to 20,000 hectares overnight, Premier Rachel Notley said Tuesday morning.
The premier was speaking outside Fort McMurray.
According to Parks Canada, the wildfire demonstrated extreme fire behaviour for many hours due to high winds and critically dry fuels.
"Burning intensified and the fire moved northeast down the Cameron Valley along the Akamina Parkway," a press release read ."Later in the evening, fire became visible from the townsite and then on the north side of Crandell Mountain. The fire began to move north at a high rate of spread through the grasslands along the park’s Entrance Road.
"At this time, the majority of the townsite appears to be intact. Extensive fire protection measures were effective in safeguarding the majority of infrastructure and facilities within the community and at the Prince of Wales hotel.
"Firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the night to extinguish spot fires, monitor sprinkler protection, and protect facilities. High volume pumps and sprinkler systems, in combination with planning and fuel management done in previous years, ensured the townsite perimeter held. We expect extremely dry conditions will influence fire behaviour throughout the burning period today. Additional resources have been dispatched to assist. We are expecting a downturn in weather over the next 24 hours."
The fire moved north out of the park overnight; affected municipalities and local fire departments are managing the fire outside of the national park. Local evacuation orders are in effect. Parks Canada staff assisted RCMP with the evacuation of residents adjacent to the park.
Premier Notley tweeted Tuesday that about 45 firefighters from neighbouring communities were working in the Waterton townsite but that the visitor centre and other outbuildings had been destroyed.
The wildfire is still affecting many back-country and front-country areas in the park, including the Cameron Valley, the Crandell Mountain area, the Blakiston Valley and grasslands in the north of the park. Elsewhere in the park infrastructure has been compromised. The unified team is assessing conditions on the ground today and will provide updated information as soon as possible, according to Parks.
The fire crossed into the Forest Protection Area in the Castle drainage area and is moving upslope and not towards values at risk at this time. Airtankers and helicopters are working on this area of the fire, supported by heavy equipment group that is establishing predetermined containment lines to act as fire breaks.
"Parks Canada understands that this is a very difficult situation and our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the fire. The safety of residents, staff and fire crews and the protection of infrastructure in the community of Waterton are Parks Canada's priorities."
WHAT’S OPEN AND CLOSED
-Waterton Lakes National Park is closed: www.parkscanada.ca/waterton-kenow-fire
-Calgary Forest Protection Area south of Highway 532 is closed: http://srd.web.alberta.ca/calgary-area-update
Stay up to date through Waterton Lakes National Park’s website, Facebook page and Twitter feed. Additional information about wildfires in the national mountain parks is available at www.parkscanada.ca/fire.
