In an effort to protect communities from the threat of forest fires and promote good forest health, a prescribed fire has been scheduled for the Kananaskis area over the next few days.
The fire will be set about 30 km southeast of Canmore and five kilometers southeast of Kananaskis Village in Elbow-Sheep Provincial Park.
The fire season of 2011 showed how dangerous and destructive wildfires can be and prescribed fires are important tools to keep communities safe.
The Evan-Thomas prescribed fire will:
- create a fire break that will help protect nearby communities from the threat of wildfire;
- restore the diversity of vegetation in the area; and
- improve and expand wildlife habitat.
As a result of the plan, portions of the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park will be closed to ensure public safety, including trail and facility closures that may impact backcountry users of the park.
Travellers on Highway 40 are urged to use caution and expect delays.
Even though every effort will be made to reduce the impact of smoke, it will be visible during the operation and may settle into nearby valleys.
The airspace around the prescribed fire will be restricted to fire-related aircraft only.
The burn will take several days to complete, depending on weather conditions and how they may affect the operation.
Regular updates on the status of the prescribed fire will be available online at www.Kananaskis-Country.ca or by calling 1-866-916-INFO.
