A late afternoon lightning storm following days of hot, dry weather ignited two separate fires on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Jasper National Park’s fire management team spotted the Princess Lake fire (near Celestine Lake) during a smoke flight. The crew routinely does these flights after lightning events during periods of high and extreme fire danger.
The second fire ignited on Sirdar Mountain in the Maligne Valley (approximately five kilometres north of Medicine Lake) and was reported to Parks Canada by a member of the public.
Early identification of both fires allowed the initial attack crew to act quickly to bring the intense surface fires under control. The crew worked on the ground while a helicopter bucketed water to prevent the fires from spreading, and the
Princess Lake fire was successfully extinguished that evening. The Sirdar Mountain fire was brought under control and then fully extinguished the following morning.
No wildfire related closures are in effect in Jasper National Park. Smoke from both of the fires was minimal.
Fire danger is expected to remain high to extreme.
Despite recent rain, forest fuels are dry, particularly in valley bottoms.
Please be extra careful with all sources of flame and report any suspicious fires or smoke by calling 911.
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
