Evacuation alert still in effect

GLACIER WILDFIRE HASN’T GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY

An evacuation alert remained in place Saturday for the entirety of Waterton Lakes National Park.

Parks Canada said in a press release that all backcountry areas and hiking trails, including access to Red Rock Parkway and water bodies, were closed.

The fire didn’t grow significantly Friday night and it remains in the Boundary Creek Valley in Montana’s Glacier National Park. The fire is about seven kilometres from the Waterton townsite.

While some parts of southern Alberta got rain Friday night, there was none at the warden office or Boundary Bay and only 0.2 millimetres at Goat Haunt, said Parks Canada, adding there was heavy smoke in the air Saturday morning.

Officials said temperatures below seasonal norms and moderate southwest winds Saturday could be expected to spark active behaviour on the wildfire’s eastern flank. But significant amounts of rain are expected tonight and Monday.

Parks Canada spokesman John Stoesser told The Canadian Press Saturday the townsite is the only part of the park that remains open.

“The townsite is one of the biggest draws to the park, so people can still come into the town.

“There is some smoke, but it's warm with some light winds.”

Highways through the park and into the town remain open.

Stoesser said the humid air in the area is helping firefighters and between five and 20 millimetres of rain are expected today.

“Anything five and above would be good for this situation and help with this fire,” Stoesser said.

Parks Canada and the U.S. National Park Service are co-ordinating fire control efforts. Parks Canada has installed structural protection at backcountry campgrounds. Parks Canada has deployed two helicopters, an initial attack team and a local incident management team.

Because of gusty winds Friday, aerial crews couldn’t drop water on the blaze.