CANMORE – The average fire danger across Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley outside Banff National Park is now considered high.
Anastasia Drummond, a wildfire information officer for the Calgary Forest Area (CFA), said some areas of the CFA are pushing into a very high fire hazard.
“Warm temperatures and gusty winds are driving up the wildfire danger. The forecast is calling for a return to very warm temperatures with no anticipated precipitation,” she said in an email update.
“As the grass continues to cure – die and dry out – it and other dry vegetation can provide extra fuel for fast-moving wildfires.”
According to Environment Canada, temperatures will go to 28 degrees Celsius on Thursday (Sept. 5), 29 C on Friday and 28 C for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
The Fallentimber wildfire, which is located about 25 km west of Water Valley, is now under control at 48.8 hectares.
Since Jan. 1, the CFA has responded to 77 wildfires which have burned a total of 63.46 hectares.
Drummond said patrol staff generally saw safe campfire practices over the long weekend.
“They did, however, discover six abandoned campfires and extinguished them,” she said.
Across the province, there have been 1,132 wildfires recorded in the forest protection area that have burned 708,301 hectares since Jan. 1.
There are currently 79 active wildfires. Of these, 35 are being held and 44 are under control.
One carryover wildfire remains from the 2023 season.
The fire danger in neighbouring Banff National Park is rated moderate.
