Parks Canada orders evacuation of Waterton

Parks Canada issued an immediate evacuation order for Waterton Lakes National Park on Friday due to potential hazards from the Kenow wildfire.

The evacuation order includes Waterton Park townsite, and all front-country and backcountry trails, facilities and areas except for Highway 5 and 6, and the Chief Mountain border crossing.

The park is closed to all incoming traffic except emergency vehicles. The Prince of Wales Hotel closed down yesterday.

The Kenow wildfire started west of Waterton Lakes National Park in the Flathead Valley and is currently not contained. It has expanded to over 19,000 acres in size and has advanced into the park.

A change in weather led to increased potential danger from the fire which necessitated the evacuation order, according to a Parks Canada press release.

An evacuation center has been established in the neighboring community of Pincher Creek.

The fire is burning on the northwest edge of Waterton, primarily in British Columbia, but the fear is the fire could come into Warterton over the weekend as winds increase.

With winds expected from the southwest, it has the potential to burn over Akimina, South Kootenay, Sage and Castle Divide passes.