A small forest fire started about three kilometres from Jasper, after an illegal fire was not extinguished properly on Sept. 10. 

Parks Canada responded after the blaze was reported by a trail user, and put out the 10 by 10 metre fire before it got out of hand. Fire Communications Specialist, Kim Weir, said it could have been much worse. 

“It’s a huge issue, especially with the fuel under the surface being so dry,” Weir said. 

The fire started in the west end of Jasper, at the start and end of the Saturday Night Loop trail, north of the wetlands located at the back end of Cabin Lake. Weir said the fire was started about 25 metres from the lake.

“It’s actually a fairly popular area,” Weir said. 

Luckily, the fire was set outside of Jasper’s fire guard that runs along the west of town, but Weir said it was still too close for comfort. 

“The proximity to the community was pretty scary,” she said. 

Responding to the call was Dave Smith with Parks Canada’s fire management team along with two resource conservation personnel and three trail crew members. 

The fire was burning deep into the ground and Weir said fires of that type can be difficult to extinguish. 

“It was quite dug in,” she said. “Generally when things burn deeply into the ground they’re quite difficult to put out.”

The fire was in fact illegal, and Weir confirmed that Parks is seeking charges against those responsible for lighting the fire. 

“We’re certainly working on it.”

Clearing an area of obvious fire hazards such as pine needles and lining a fire pit with rocks does not prevent the fire from going deeper into the fuel in the ground, she added. 

“The whole reason that we have the metal fire grades is so that fires can be started safely,” Weir said. 

Forest fires can be extremely costly to residents. Even a small fire can run a bill up to $12,000 if it requires helicopter use. The Cabin Lake fire did not require a helicopter. The crew was able to put out the fire using a high-pressure pump and hand tools. 

The current fire risk in Jasper National Park is low due to rain that has soaked above-ground fuels, however organic fuels buried below the ground remain dry.