With the wildfire danger rated as high to extreme and a potential for more lightning strikes in the coming days, Parks Canada has declared a fire ban in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks effective Wednesday, July 12.
“The safety of the public, our crews, park infrastructure and neighbouring lands is always Parks Canada’s number one priority,” said a statement rom the federal agency. “Recent dry conditions and lightning activity on July 10th resulted in six small fires in and around Glacier National Park.”
Parks Canada’s fire management team in Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks is managing the current fire situation. Action is being taken, including heli-bucketing, to suppress fires that pose a risk to people and/or assets in the area.
Parks Canada is a world leader in fire management and its National Incident Management Teams are also assisting with fire fighting elsewhere in the province of British Columbia, the statement said.
According to BC’s Public Safety and Emergency Services, there are currently 335 wildfires larger than 0.01 hectare. There are 50 wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes Revelstoke. Nine of those fires are out of control.
