Bow Valley preparing for intense fire activity as region sees extreme fire danger

With crews battling to save the town of Jasper, Alta., from wildfires, communities in the Bow Valley are gearing up in case of increased fire behaviour further south. 

Banff National Park and the towns of Banff and Canmore, Alta., are all facing extreme fire danger due to recent hot temperatures and bone-dry weather. 

On Wednesday evening, two out-of-control fires were burning east of the Banff National Park boundary in the Calgary and Rocky Mountain House forest areas. 

Banff fire Chief Russ Geyer said his team is ready for whatever conditions come their way. 

"Right now, we are in a state of readiness," said Geyer. "We've spent [many years] preparing equipment, training personnel and being prepared for events such as the fire that Jasper is seeing right now."

Banff National Park said on Wednesday a crew was fighting a fire start south of Hector Lake, inside the park boundaries. 

Fire crews in the valley could see the danger ease over the next few days, however, according to Alberta Wildfire information officer Melissa Story. 

"We are expecting to see a bit of reprieve over the next couple days with a little bit of rain. We're going to see 15 to 30 [millilitres] in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area," said Story.   

Temperatures are also expected to ease from this week's blistering highs. 

Environment Canada is forecasting Thursday's high will dip to 19 C in Canmore, and 16 C in Banff. 

But Story said the humidity will remain low enough that the potential for "extreme fire behaviour" will remain.

Towns working to manage the danger

The Town of Canmore has identified wildfire as the community's top-rated hazard in its Climate Emergency Action Plan. 

For years, crews have been thinning old trees around town, and a community fireguard project is in its planning stages. 

"We do have a lot of overgrown trees, a lot of old growth, and they are dry and they're not meant to live that long," said Caitlin Miller, Canmore's director of Emergency Management. 

"We've done a really good job of preserving them and now we need to make sure that we're doing a good job of maintaining that natural environment." 

Banff's director of Emergency and Protective Services Katherine Severson said the town's evacuation plans account for its limited entry and exit points. 

"When we look at any of our mountain communities and mountain community towns, we inherently face some geographic challenges for sure. And Banff is no exception," she said.

"We certainly look at those challenges and build them into our contingencies … No doubt it's a challenge when we talk about those really dramatic conditions that Jasper saw."

Severson and Geyer said like Canmore, Banff has spent many years thinning vegetation around the community to reduce the danger. 

Tourists, residents should be prepared

Miller said residents and tourists should prepare for the worst, as long as the potential for out-of-control wildfires remains high. 

"Understand the risk of coming to a community that's surrounded by forest. Understand that the fire danger in our area is extreme," she said.

"We have a fire ban. Campfires aren't allowed, right? So if you're coming out to enjoy Canmore or the area, make sure that you know what the rules are … and know how to get out." 

Miller said residents and tourists should pack up their important documents and keep their cars filled up, in case fire behaviour forces the community to evacuate.