Crews still battling blaze near Sunshine Village
Authorities say wildfire crews continue to battle the Verdant Creek wildfire that is burning a couple of kilometres from Sunshine Village, in an update provided Friday.
Parks Canada says the fire — that remains some 24 kilometres from the Banff townsite — is still not threatening any local communities. Area closures are in place in both Kootenay and Banff national parks in the Egypt Lake area, and Brewster Creek area, according to a release from Parks Canada.
Access to trails and backcountry campsites is prohibited in the closed areas.
“Sunshine Village is now closed to the public as part of an operational closure,” Parks Canada said.
“A fire ban is still in effect for all mountain national parks due to the elevated fire danger and to prevent the possibility of humancaused fires.”
The fire now stretches between 2,500 and 3,000 hectares in Kootenay National Park and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.