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BC  

Wildfire closes another park

An active wildfire in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park has led BC Parks officials to halt all inbound traffic.

The order is effective immediately and is an effort to protect public safety, according to the BC Wildfire Service's information office in Castlegar.

Firefighters and equipment are battling a 4,126 hecatre wildfire burning in in the park which sits just west of the B.C.-Alberta border and about 48 km southwest of Banff.

"Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is a high-alpine backcountry park accessible only by hiking trails, which would make an evacuation of the area difficult if it were needed," said a press release. "This proactive measure will enable a safe and orderly exit of the public from the area."

On July 20th, the Verdant Creek wildfire forced the evacuation of Sunshine Village. The fire has spread into Kootenay and Mount Assiniboine provincial parks.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cellphone or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.



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