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Air survey shows wildfire near Banff covers 4,100 hectares

Helicopters are seen leaving a fire base for the Verdant Creek wildfire in an undated Parks Canada handout image.
Helicopters are seen leaving a fire base for the Verdant Creek wildfire in an undated Parks Canada handout image. Parks Canada,

Parks Canada says it has been able to get a better idea of the size of a wildfire that’s been burning close to Banff.

READ MORE: Areas of Kootenay and Banff national parks closed due to wildfire 

The agency says its fire management personnel were able to fly around the perimeter of the Verdant Creek fire on Friday and determined it covers approximately 4,100 hectares.

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Prior to that, Parks Canada says it was difficult to accurately gauge the size because of smoke that was impeding visibility, but there were estimates it was up to 3,000 hectares.

Parks Canada says the fire hasn’t grown much to the southeast over the past few days and still doesn’t threaten any communities.

READ MORE: Fire ban, closures in place in Banff, Kootenay national parks as wildfire burns 

Sunshine Village, a popular resort along the Alberta-B.C. boundary, has being cleared of guests so it can be used as a staging area for fire crews battling the flames.

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The fire remains about 24 kilometres from the Town of Banff.

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