All closures in the Maligne Valley lifted
All areas of Maligne Valley, including Watchtower Trail and the Medicine Lake lookout, were reopened July 28, after the area was closed for nearly three weeks because of the Excelsior Wildlife.
Parks Canada is advising anyone travelling in the area to be aware of falling trees and rocks, to stop only at roadside lookouts and to respect the 60 km/h speed limit.
Favourable weather helped fire crews secure a perimeter around the fire and no hot spots have been detected for several days.
Parks will continue to monitor the area until the fire is completely extinguished.
The Excelsior Wildfire was first reported on July 9 and grew to 966 hectares along the flanks of Medicine Lake.
Parks deemed the fire under control on July 20 and reopened Maligne Lake Road to the public on July 22.
According to Parks, the fire was ignited by a lightning strike on July 1 and smouldered underground before igniting eight days later, after days of hot and dry weather.
At least 1,000 people were forced to evacuate the Maligne Valley over the course of two days when the fire was first reported.
Court date set for Maligne Lake development
This October, the federal court of Edmonton will hear Ecojustice’s legal challenge against a development proposal at Maligne Lake.
On Aug. 22, 2014, Ecojustice filed a legal challenge to quash Jasper National Park Supt. Greg Fenton’s approval of Maligne Tours Ltd.’s proposal to build up to 15 overnight tent cabins at Maligne Lake.
“The written materials and argument of the parties have been filed and CPAWS and the Jasper Environmental Association look forward to their day in court,” said Fraser Thomson, a lawyer for Ecojustice, in an emailed statement.
The legal challenge was launched after Parks accepted all but one of the “enhancements” Maligne Tours Ltd. proposed for its Maligne Lake property, rejecting only the construction of a 66-room hotel.
Ecojustice lawyers are representing the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) and the Jasper Environmental Association (JEA).
The parties will appear in court Oct. 27 and 28.
