Lightning sparks two small forest fires in remote JNP

A wildfire in the western portion of Jasper National Park, near Simon Creek on the historic Athabasca Pass route, was started by lightning on July 18. // Parks Canada

Two lightning strikes in remote areas on either side of Jasper National Park have Parks Canada firefighters in the air and on the ground.

Utopia Forest Fire

A lightning-caused wildfire above Utopia Pass, near Miette Hot Springs, closed the backcountry and Miette Hot Springs, and forced the evacuation of the nearby Miette Bungalows.

The size of the fire is currently estimated at two hectares, or four football fields.

A two-hectare wildfire on Mount Utopia in the eastern part of Jasper National Park has led to the closure of hiking trails and campgrounds in the area and an evacuation order for the Miette Hot Springs. // Parks Canada

Two firefighting teams and two helicopters are working to contain the Utopia forest fire. Additional resources are on standby.

Miette Hot Springs and Fiddle River backcountry areas are closed to the public due to wildfire suppressionThis includes Sulfur Skyline Trail, Source of the Springs Trail, Utopia Campground, Slide Creek Campground and Whitehorse Campground.

Miette Road is only accessible to guests and staff of Miette Bungalows, Miette Campground and Miette Mountain Cabins.

Needle peak forest fire

The July 18 lightning storm sparked a second wildfire in the Simon Creek drainage, on the slopes of Needle Peak, in a remote valley in the western part of Jasper National Park. A fire crew and helicopter are working to contain this wildfire. No people, trails or infrastructure were affected by this wildfire.

Lightning in the forecast

According to Parks Canada, warm and dry conditions will continue with more lightning forecast later today (July 19). Firefighters will continue to monitor new wildfires and are ready to respond.

According to a Parks Canada spokesperson, additional regional Parks Canada resources, including members of the Incident Management Team and Initial Attack teams, can be mobilized within hours. National resources can also be mobilized within two days to assist with controlling large wildfires.

No drone zone; fire ban remains in effect

Drone use in a wildfire situation poses unacceptable risks to aircraft and Parks Canada personnel and contractors. Drone use in the park is illegal and carries a fine of up to $25,000.

A fire ban remains in effect throughout Jasper National Park.

For more information about the impact of smoking, visit Alberta Health Services or call Health Link at 8-1-1.

Stay informed:

You can find a live smoke forecast online at firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/

For road access updates, call 5-1-1 or visit 511.alberta.ca/

Respect all area closures and restrictions: parks.canada.ca/jasper-alerts

No matter the weather or time of year, you can be prepared for any emergency. Here are some tips: alberta.ca/emergency-preparedness.aspx