Parks Canada and the local fire department responded to a small wildfire on Pyramid Bench on July 19.
The fire started around 3 p.m. and was quickly contained and extinguished.
Parks Canada said it believes illegal campers started the fire, which was approximately 15 to 20 metres in size.
“Between helicopter buckets and ladder one we dumped a lot of water onto it,” said fire chief Greg Van Tighem.
The wildfire occurred a day after Parks Canada issued a fire ban across Jasper National Park.
As of press time the fire ban remained in place making it illegal to light or maintain a fire anywhere in the park, including the townsite.
The park wide fire ban follows a similar ban in Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks as Parks Canada and B.C. wildfire crews continue to battle a wildfire in Kootenay National Park that is now 4,100 hectares in size.
According to a press release on July 21, crews are making “good progress” on the wildfire, however it is still burning out of control.
Late last week a temporary closure was put in place at Sunshine Village and guests from its lodge were relocated to hotels in Banff in order to stage wildfire operations.
That closure was lifted on July 24 allowing the ski resort to resume its summer operations and welcome back its guests.
The wildfire is about 2.5 km from Sunshine Village and 24 km from Banff, according to Parks Canada. The agency is confident the fire is not a risk to the communities in the Bow Valley.
A fire ban has also been issued for Waterton Lakes National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park.
For up to date information about wildfires and fire bans in Alberta and British Columbia, air quality, road conditions, and how to prepare your family for a wildfire visit: pc.gc.ca/jasperfireupdate.
Paul Clarke
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