Sunshine Village resort in Banff National Park as well as some hiking trails are reopening this week as crews continue to make progress in their fight to contain the Verdant Creek wildfire over the weekend.
All visitors and guests had to pack up on Friday afternoon, as Parks Canada temporarily turned Sunshine Village into a staging ground for their fire fight, as it gave them easier access to the blaze, which was about 2.5 kilometres away.
READ MORE: ‘High to extreme’ danger across Alberta, BC parks spurs extension of fire ban
The mountain village’s day facility, gondola and ski lift were reopened Monday. Parks Canada said the hiking trails in the area would reopen Wednesday.
Hiking trails in the Egypt Lake area, Healy Pass and Sunshine Meadows will also be reopened on Wednesday.
The Brewster Creek area has also been reopened, with the exception of the Fatigue Pass Trail.
The 4,100-hectare fire, which is burning in both Kootenay National Park and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, is being fought by about 75 fire personnel and five helicopters.
WATCH: Jane Park from Parks Canada explains why shutting down Sunshine Village was an big help fighting the wildfire
Jane Park, deputy incident commander with Parks Canada, said most of the weekend efforts went into keeping the fire from spreading to the Bow Valley. Crews were cutting fire lines – which are meant to contain a fire from spreading – and putting out hot spots in front of the fires.
“We’re not fully contained at the moment,” Park said. “We should be at the point where we can say those areas are fully contained hopefully within the next day or two.”
Fire ban still in place
Parks Canada is reminding visitors that the fire ban is still in place in both Kootenay and Banff national parks, as dry conditions are expected to persist for some time.
READ MORE: IN PHOTOS: Mystic smoke from wildfires drifts through Rocky Mountains
Park said several charges have been laid against people starting illegal fires in both the front and backcountry.
“We have been receiving numerous calls every day about illegal fires,” Park said.
WATCH: Jane Park from Parks Canada says they are still dealing with illegal fires in both the front and back country
Park also said the 60-year-old Verdant Creek Cabin, which was used primarily as a patrol cabin by Parks Canada staff, was destroyed by the fire.
WATCH: Jant Parks from Parks Canada confirms one cabin was destroyed during the Verdant Creek wildfire
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