Efforts are still being made to keep the Rabbit Creek wildfire in Prince Albert National Park in check with the help of 13 helicopters, two water tankers, and 187 personnel.
The blaze has grown to around 31,400 hectares.
Parks Canada officials said Thursday the ongoing dry and warm weather conditions are contributing to increased fire activity and significant smoke in the area.
Personnel are continuing to extinguish hotpots in the community pasture near the park boundary, as well as priority areas on the east and west sides.
Current priorities include containment options on the fire’s north end and maintaining preparedness to respond to new fires.
Work is being done to reduce the risk of wildfire around the townsite of Waskesiu by removing fuels around buildings and installing sprinkler systems.
What is closed:
Area closures are in effect due to extreme fire risk and smoke, but not fire activity at this time.
The following areas are closed and restricted to authorized personnel only by order of the superintendent:
• Sandy Lake boating;
• Sandy Lake trails;
• Freight Tait Springs Trail;
• Elk Trail;
• Cookson Road is closed from the south boundary of the park by the Cookson Pasture to Mayview Road;
• Valleyview Trail Network (access to the Sturgeon Crossing Warden Station and northwards to the location of the now unmaintained Lofthouse Trail);
• Amyot Lake Trail;
• West Side Trail; and
• Hunter’s Lake Trail.
A fire ban remains in place for the national park.