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A small wildfire near the eastern entry to Banff National Park is under control and should soon be extinguished, Parks Canada officials said Saturday.
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The Carrot Creek fire was reported burning Friday night on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway, about two kilometres from the park entry gates. The fire only reached about 0.2 kilometres in size.
No communities were considered to be at risk as Parks Canada fire crews, supported by two helicopters, attacked the blaze.
“Extreme” fire conditions persist across much of southern Alberta with a heat warning expected to remain in place into next week, with forecast temperatures topping 30 C.
A fire ban remains in place for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks, with advisories and restrictions in place for several other areas, including Kananaskis Country and the Calgary Forest Area.
Rocky View and Foothills counties imposed a full fire ban Friday while the Town of Cochrane enacted fire restrictions that prohibit all open wood burning fires, including backyard firepits and charcoal briquette barbecues. Firepits at Riverfront Park, Mitford Park and Cochrane Ranche are closed.
No fire bans are in place for Calgary.
Parks Canada said no further updates on the Carrot Creek fire would will be given unless the situation rapidly changed.
“Crews will continue to monitor and suppress the wildfire throughout the weekend. Fire operations may be visible from Highway 1, within Banff National Park. Give our fire crews space to work; please do not pull over on the highway to watch fire operations,” the federal agency said in a Facebook post.
