Fire in Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park being held: Parks Canada

WATERTON, Alta. – Parks Canada says the wildfire in southwestern Alberta is no longer out of control and is being held.

A water bomber picks up water at the Waterton Dam, north of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alta. on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, adding to the fight against a large fire burning in the park.THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Rossiter

But the agency says the Kenow fire in Waterton Lakes National Park is still active and covers an estimated 380 square kilometres.

Residents, business owners and lease holders are now able to return to the Waterton townsite, but the rest of the park remains closed.

Related: Kenow wildfire in southwestern Alberta now covers 36,000 hectares

Those returning have been warned there may be intermittent power outages and that they may see confused or injured animals wandering around.

Everyone was ordered out of Waterton 11 days ago when a powerful fire burning in British Columbia was poised to cross into the park.

The fire tore through the park three days later but fire crews managed to stop it from spreading into the town.

2/2 Scorched grasslands & burnt aspens in Waterton today but encouraged to see a small herd of white tailed deer. #KenowFire #WatertonFire pic.twitter.com/JUf3bq2YfD

— Rick (In hibernation) Andrews 🎥 (@RickAndrews12) September 19, 2017

Jason Contant

Jason has been an award-winning journalist with Canadian Underwriter for more than a decade, including the past three years as associate editor and, before that, as digital editor for seven years.