Waterton Lakes NP re-opens after brush with Kenow wildfire
WATERTON LAKES NP – Nearly two weeks after an evacuation order was issued for Waterton Lakes National Park in the face of the Kenow wildfire, it has once again opened to the public.
Having said that, only the entry road to the park and the Waterton townsite are open for the time being, as there has been extensive damage to the surrounding area. An assessment of that damage is ongoing, and until that is complete, access to other parts of the park will be limited.
“The reason for that is safety,” stated Parks Canada spokesperson, Natalie Fay, who also pointed out that while the fire is no longer considered out of control, it remains active in the area. “People need to keep in mind that we still have a long road ahead of us and a lot of work needs to be done, especially in the outlying areas where we’re focussing on doing detailed damage assessments.
“One thing that we do ask is that as people are allowed back into the park and the townsite, that they do respect the area closures. Do not go out into any burnt areas,” added Fay.