— Parks Canada issued a precautionary evacuation alert on Tuesday evening for all of Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta due to potential danger from an expanding wildfire. Parks officials called it “a pre-emptive action” so they can be fully prepared if fire conditions change, saying “safety is paramount.”They said there was no immediate threat. The Alberta government called the evacuation “voluntary” and said it includes not just the National Park but the community of Waterton, which has a population of about 100 people. A Parks Canada national incident management team is on site, along with three initial attack crews and five helicopters, with another crew expected on Wednesday. Waterton National Park is located in the province’s southwest and borders Glacier National Park in Montana.

Source: National Post September 06, 2017 01:28 UTC