Waterton fire ban in effect

Information bulletin

Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, August 24, 2011 – Parks Canada is issuing a park-wide ban on all fires in Waterton Lakes National Park due to extreme fire hazard. The ban begins at 12:01 p.m. on Thursday, August 25. Although banning campfires may be inconvenient, the safety of people in the park and protection of facilities takes precedence. The fire ban will remain in effect until further notice.


While campfires are normally only permitted in designated fire pits, under this Fire Ban all wood burning fires are prohibited, including the use of charcoal briquettes and wood-burning stoves in picnic shelters. The fire ban applies to all areas of the park, including campgrounds, day-use areas and the community. Use of gas or propane stoves and barbeques is permitted. All park facilities remain open.

The park has been in a situation of high to extreme fire hazard since July 28th. Forests and grasslands are very dry, making them particularly susceptible to fire. There has been less than 11 millimetres of precipitation since July 24th, and this is compounded by recent above normal temperatures and frequently strong winds.

Clear criteria exist for implementing fire bans, and are based on daily monitoring of weather and fuel/vegetation conditions, as well as principles of fire behaviour and risk. The fire ban will be lifted as soon as conditions permit.

During these extreme fire hazard conditions, please be extremely careful to fully extinguish any possible ignition sources such as cigarettes.

If you see a wildfire in Waterton Lakes National Park, please call 403-859-2636.

For updated information on Fire Bans throughout Alberta: visit www.albertafirebans.ca