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Highway still closed as firefight continues
Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park remains closed to through traffic as Parks Canada battles a wildfire complex that includes a number of lightning-ignited wildfires in Kootenay and Banff national parks.
Parks Canada also continues to work in partnership with BC Wildfire Service and Alberta Wildfire in the management of wildfires on neighbouring lands.
Kootenay Park Lodge has been evacuated due to the proximity of the Wardle fire to the lodge, the weather forecasted for the next two days and the dry conditions on the ground.
On Wednesday, August 1, the two lightning-ignited wildfires in the Vermilion Valley, south of Vermilion Crossing combined together and grew significantly. The Wardle wildfire, as it is now called, moved northward in the Vermilion Valley and is now estimated at 1,000 hectares.
One of the spot fires in Kootenay Valley, south of Kootenay Crossing, is now extinguished and another is contained.
The fire on the slopes of Lipalian Mountain in the Bow Valley, east of Lake Louise is being held.
The Highway 93 closure is now considered partial no through access. Certain areas at the north and south ends of Kootenay National Park, including the Radium Hot Pools are accessible.
In the south; access from Radium Hot Springs to McLeod Meadows is now open. In the north; access to Paint Pots from the Junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) is now open.
Highway 93 remains closed to through traffic from Paint Pots to McLeod Meadows campground due to wildfire.
DriveBC reports there is now no estimated time of opening the highway for through traffic.
Check www.DriveBC.ca and www.511.alberta.ca for alternate routes.
Area closures :
A new closure is in place for Hector Gorge trail.
A new closure is in place for the North Rockwall from Tumbling Pass to the Paint Pots trailhead, including Helmet Creek trail, Goodsir Pass trail and Wolverine Pass trail. This closure includes associated campgrounds: Tumbling, Helmet and Helmet/Ochre.
The South Rockwall trail from Tumbling Pass to Floe Lake trailhead, including associated campgrounds: Numa Creek and Floe Lake;
The area near Luxor Pass trail, West Kootenay trail, Dolly Varden trail and Crooks Meadow Group camping;
Honeymoon Pass trail, Hawk Creek trail and Simpson River trail;
Day-use areas including Wardle Creek day-use area, Vermilion Crossing day-use area and Simpson’s Monument day-use area.
More information on closures.
Columbia Valley communities and businesses remain open. When Highway 9S through access is not possible for safety reasons, alternate routes, such as Highways 1 and 95 through Golden, add only approximately one additional hour of driving time.
The Whitetail Creek wildfire, north of Kootenay National Park in the Beaverfoot Valley continues to be managed by BC Wildfire in partnership with Parks Canada.
Parks Canada fire crews continue to monitor Kootenay and Banff national parks for new wildfires and are ready with the resources to respond quickly.
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