Rain dampens wildfire, but park is still off limits
Waterton townsite safe, though residents won’t be able to return for weeks: official
A steady rain fell on Waterton Lakes National Park on Thursday as evacuees and business owners learned it could still be weeks before they will be permitted to return home.
While evacuation orders ended or shrank in size for communities surrounding the national park, many Waterton residents are still waiting to hear updates on the condition of their homes.
“We just feel displaced and in limbo. You feel like your life is completely on hold,” said Dave Cruickshank, resident and business owner.
“We’ve had no communication with Parks Canada. They’ve done a wonderful job saving the townsite — but they’ve done a terrible job keeping people up to date on what’s happening.”
The Kenow fire continues to burn out of control over approximately 36,000 hectares.
And while the Waterton townsite is no longer threatened by fire, Parks Canada officials say many areas in the park are still unsafe and that it could be weeks before anyone is allowed to return to their properties.
“People still need to remember that this is an active fire. It is still classified as being out of control,” said Natalie Fay, spokeswoman for Parks Canada. “Parks Canada will communicate when it’s safe to go back, but right now, we’re still a ways away from that. So we just want to make sure that people know they should not be attempting to return to the park itself.”
Fay said an assessment is underway on the condition of the homes and businesses within the park and that residents and leaseholders will be informed as soon as possible.
A damp weather system that has settled over the southwestern part of the province helped fire crews battling the Kenow blaze.
Around six millimetres of rain fell overnight into Thursday, the first significant day of precipitation in the area since July.
But even as some residents breathed a tentative sigh of relief, fire officials said it will take a lot more moisture than what’s been forecast to knock down Kenow.
“We need about four consecutive days of a really good, steady rainfall that allows the rain to soak into the ground and not just run off to make a difference,” said Leslie Lozinski, Alberta wildfire information officer.
“And then we have to hope that the temperatures don’t go back up and the winds don’t come out and dry it all out.”
Environment Canada is calling for the rain to end by the weekend.
At the Vertical Church Thursday, the designated evacuation centre in Pincher Creek, senior pastor Chris Ney said the moisture is very much needed.
“I think everyone is hopeful that the rain will help (and) people are just waiting on getting the OK to go back home,” Ney said.
“We keep praying for heavier rain, more rain and that these guys can get this under control.”
Many are still displaced from their homes in Waterton, portions of the M.D. of Pincher Creek and Castle Mountain Resort.
The evacuation area in the M.D. of Pincher Creek shrank significantly Thursday to allow residents living north of Oil Basin Road, or Township Road 32, to return to their homes. Mandatory evacuation orders have also been lifted for Cardston County and the Blood reserve.
As the barricades retreated toward the park, ranchers and residents living in former evacuation zones were permitted to return to homes that are still without power.
During the fire, 675 homes were without electricity. Fortis has restored power to 254 customers and is working to restore power to the remaining 421 customers.
“People that are coming home should be prepared to be self-sufficient for a few days at least, probably longer, while that gets restored,” said RCMP Cpl. Curtis Peters.