Calgarians could be in store for some smoky days as crews continue to work on the Verdant Creek wildfire burning in Kootenay National Park and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.
Parks Canada said Sunday their crews were planning to conduct a “burn out” — meaning they set fires on the inside edge of a fire control line or natural barrier.
READ MORE: Sunshine Village closed due to nearby Verdant Creek wildfire
The goal is to “consumed unburned fuel” — in this case, trees and other vegetation — to keep the wildfire from spreading and speed up the effort to get it under control.
Click here for the latest alerts related to the Verdant Creek wildfire and Banff National Park
The fire has grown slightly to 5,100 hectares. Last Sunday, it was reported at 4,126 hectares. However, there is still no threat to any local communities.
The burn out, paired with warm temperatures, means fire activity will be increased, which could mean a large smoke column could be seen in the Bow and Columbia valleys, Parks Canada said.
READ MORE: Fire ban further expands into southern Alberta as smoke drifts into Bow Valley
The smoke will likely settle in the evenings. It’s expected the smoky conditions could last for a few days.
WATCH: An unusual sight could be seen over the skies of Calgary Wednesday as smoke rolled through the Bow Valley
There are currently no air quality advisories issued for anywhere in the province.
Check albertafirebans.ca for the most up-to-date information or call 1-866-FYI-FIRE (1-866-394-3473)
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