The 5,100-hectare Verdant Creek wildfire and a change in weather conditions over the weekend have resulted in Parks Canada reinstating various area closures, officials said Monday.
Parks Canada ordered Banff’s Sunshine Village and Sunshine Village Road to close on Monday, leading to the closure of commercial operations.
Kendra Scurfield, communications manager with Banff Sunshine Village, said they got the order to clear out late Sunday night.
“We’re going to be relocating all of our guests to rooms in Banff and then our staff is also being relocated to temporary accommodation in Banff. All in all, we have about 320 people that are being moved,” Scurfield said.
READ MORE: Calgary could see increased smoke as Verdant Creek wildfire burns on
The fire remains about 2.5 km from the resort and officials say it doesn’t pose a “direct threat” to Sunshine Village, but the continuing hot and windy weather has caused concern.
Other closures in Banff National Park include:
- All trails in the Egypt Lake area
- Healy Pass
- Citadel Pass
- Sunshine Meadows
- Backcountry campgrounds Re16, E13 and E5
The closures will be in place until further notice. Shadow Lake Lodge and backcountry campgrounds Re6, Re14 and Re21 are still open.
Scurfield said Sunshine Village staff will be working closely with other officials involved in monitoring the fire.
“Seeing what we can do to help the Town of Banff, help Banff fire, help Parks Canada and B.C. Parks in whatever work they need to have done,” she said.
“The safeguarding of key assets, obviously, and then fingers crossed, making sure we can reopen when it’s safe to do so.”
IN PHOTOS: Mystic smoke from wildfires drifts through Rocky Mountains.
Sunshine Village CEO Dave Riley said he’s hoping it’s a short-term closure.
“Economically, this is just pretty much a disaster unfolding for us,” he said. “We have advanced reservations, we’re renting other hotel rooms, giving the guests the option to take that or maybe they just choose to move on.
“When we get open, come see us.”
Sunshine Village was closed earlier in July, as it was converted to a staging ground for Parks Canada firefighting crews.
As of Sunday, the fire was approximately 5,100 hectares in size.
Parks officials reiterated they don’t believe the fire is a threat to communities; it remained on the west side of the continental divide Monday afternoon.
Click here for the latest alerts related to the Verdant Creek wildfire and Banff National Park
“Our objectives on this fire remain: to contain it to the north end by keeping it to the west of the continental divide, to contain it at the southwest flank and prevent the spread toward Highway 93S, and when possible, assist the B.C. Forest Service’s management of the southern flank of the fire in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park,” Parks Canada said in an afternoon statement.
About 70 personnel, along with eight helicopters and pilots are currently fighting the fire.
The forecasted warmer temperatures are likely to spur “smoke columns” that will settle into valley bottoms Monday night, Parks Canada said. As long as the hot, dry conditions continue, that pattern will persist.
“Smoke may affect visibility along highways through and adjacent to Banff and Kootenay national parks,” Parks Canada said. “Travellers should check Drive BC and AB 511 for up-to-date information.”
A fire ban is in place for Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park and Yoho National Park due to elevated fire danger.
Smoke from the fire is drifting into Alberta. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for Calgary was at 5, or moderate, as of 6 p.m.
With files from Caley Ramsay, Global News
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