Parks Canada officials are maintaining watch of the Numa Creek Pass area following a forest fire late last week that had spread to more than 50 hectares (ha) by July 29/30.

Gusty winds associated with thunderstorms pushed the fire from three ha (ha) to over 50 ha, Parks Canada reported July 29.

Reported at noon Thursday, July 25, the fire is situated in Numa Creek Pass, on the north side of Numa Creek, west of Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park.

The suspected ignition source is lightning from storms that occurred earlier that week.

As a result of the fire, Parks Canada closed the Numa creek drainage to visitors, including Numa Creek Campground and trail and the Rockwall Trail from Tumbling Pass to Numa Pass.

Meanwhile, visitors to the park should also know about a ‘Restricted Activity Order’ issued in Kootenay National Park August 1 for the Sinclair Creek and Kindersley Pass Trail near Radium Hot Springs.

The order requires hiking parties to be in a group size of four or more

And the maximum distance between two individuals must not exceed three metres and should be less when sight or hearing is reduced by the physical surroundings because of grizzly bears frequenting the area.

More: http://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/scond/cond_e.asp?oid=13993&opark=100253

Images of the Numa Creek Pass fire, taken July 31 in Kootenay National Park. Photos by Pat Morrow

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