Evacuation alert remains in effect for Waterton Park

Townsite is open, but hiking trails and backcountry areas are closed

A wildfire south of Waterton Lakes National Park moved slightly north and east Saturday evening but remains entirely in Glacier National Park on the U.S. side of the border, officials said Sunday.

The incident management team responsible for fighting the Boundary Wildfire in the United States has been given authority to operate in Waterton by the superintendent of the national park, according to Parks Canada.

The wildfire is now approximately 860 hectares and is still classified as out of control. An evacuation alert remains in effect for all of Waterton Lakes National Park. Waterton townsite is open, but all backcountry areas and hiking trails in the area are closed.

The fire reached Boundary Creek Saturday evening. While the blaze remains on the south side of the creek, a Parks Canada helicopter has been bucketing water on a small spot fire on the other side of the creek.

“Fire managers will take advantage of control lines along favourable terrain and natural breaks in advance of the fire perimeter (an avalanche slide path and a creek) this afternoon if conditions permit,” a Parks Canada update stated.

“Aerial fire support, dropping water on the fire’s edge, and/or indirect attack actions (burning out fuel in advance of the fire) may be used to contain the fire’s spread north towards Waterton Lakes National Park or east towards Upper Waterton Lakes.”

While light showers were expected later Sunday, officials say the rain could limit fire spread but will not extinguish the wildfire.