Elevated fire danger has pushed Parks Canada officials to issue a fire ban for Banff National Park, effective Saturday.
Lighting or maintaining fires is strictly prohibited as of 12:01 a.m. on July 13.
Officials say after several days of hot, dry weather, Banff is experiencing drought-like conditions. A combination of dry forest fuels (branches, grass, logs) and dry organic layers (needles, decomposing fuels, and soil) are the contributing reasons for this, they add.
The ban is to ensure the safety of visitors and residents, and for the protection of park infrastructure. It includes all open fires and prohibits the use of wood or briquette campfires, wood, charcoal or briquette barbecues, outdoor wood-burning stoves (including cooking shelters), turkey fryers, and Tiki torches
Portable propane fire pits, gas or propane stoves and barbeques designed for cooking or heating, propane or gas-fueled lanterns (enclosed flame), patio heaters (propane, catalytic, or infrared/radiant), and indoor wood-burning stoves within fully enclosed permanent buildings are allowed under the ban.
The fire ban will be lifted when conditions allow, officials say.
Park officials are also asking visitors to do their part to prevent human-caused fires by not lighting illegal campfires and properly dispose of cigarettes and other combustible items.
Visitors to Banff National Park who see any wildfires, illegal campfires or suspicious smoke are asked to report it Banff Emergency Dispatch at 403-762-4506.
On Wednesday, the province introduced a fire ban for Alberta’s entire Forest Protection Area, which includes Kananaskis Country and much of the Foothills west of Calgary. National parks and towns were exempt from this ban.