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Parks Canada warns “intense fire behaviour” still possible despite improved conditions

Sep 13, 2017 | 2:48 PM

PINCHER CREEK – On September 11th, the Kenow Fire demonstrated aggressive fire behaviour for many hours due to high winds and critically dry fuels. The fire moved north at a high rate of spread along the Akamina parkway, through grasslands along the Waterton Lakes National Park’s Entrance Road and moved outside of the park boundaries. We estimate that the Kenow wildfire now covers an area of approximately 35,000 hectares.  

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOUR

  • Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity and northeast winds are forecasted. There is a potential for precipitation later this evening, which could provide some relief. Fire behaviour potential is reduced.
  • Intense fire behaviour is still possible in these dry conditions.
  • We expect the fire burned deeply due to the critically dry vegetation.

WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK

Fire is still active in the area. Current objectives include ensuring safety, minimizing risk to structures affected by fire, assessing actions and repositioning resources in priority areas, continuing direct suppression action on the fire perimeter, and completing initial damage assessments.

Completed objectives include successfully removing vegetation in a burnout to further ensure fire protection measures within the Waterton townsite. Containment lines were established in the northeast portions of the park with fire retardant and fire guards.

CASTLE BRANCH FIRE SUPRESSION

The Castle Branch wildfire is burning on the west side of Sage Mountain. This fire remains at about 500 hectares. Aircraft are working on this fire this morning as the clouds and winds allow. Heavy equipment is also working on establishing containment lines in this area. This wildfire is about 23 km to Castle Mountain and 30 km to Beaver Mines.