Chetamon Fire in Jasper National Park to be allowed to spread for ecological benefits
Parks Canada is ceasing firefighting efforts on part of Chetamon Wildfire in Jasper National Park for the ecological benefits.
Parks Canada announced Monday it would let the roughly 6,000-hectare blaze east of the Jasper townsite spread into the Chetamon Mountain basin and the valleys of Vine Creek, Corral Creek and Snake-Indian River.
"Fires have many ecological benefits; they reduce fuels, release nutrients and allow for a mosaic of ecosystems that support a diversity of plants and wildlife," Parks Canada said in a statement.
"By allowing fire to burn in these areas, Jasper National Park will have renewed habitat for wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, and elk."
Parks Canada also noted that letting the fire spread now – and eat up branches, logs, shrubs and other fire fuels – could help create a "fuel break," limiting the spread of future wildfires.
"By allowing certain areas of the Chetamon wildfire to grow under monitored conditions, vegetation will be reduced. The fuel break this creates will ultimately prevent future catastrophic wildfires that start in the northwest from spreading toward communities and infrastructure."
NO THREAT TO COMMUNITIES
The southern point of Chetamon Fire is located about 15 kilometres east of the Jasper townsite.
On Monday, there continued to be no risk to communities.
Valleys, rocky ridges, water, and low-lying moist areas are expected to contain the fire naturally as the western flank spreads.
Fire activity is expected to pick up over the week, as the forecast contains warm temperatures and no precipitation.
Officials expect the blaze to grow a couple hundred hectares along the west flank, at most, in the coming weeks.
Residents and visitors were told to expect to see smoke, flare ups, and potentially torching happening in the area for several weeks.
Parks Canada said it would respond accordingly if conditions changed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.