While they are still on high alert, the large grass fire at Grasslands National Park near Val Marie is under control.
"We're pretty comfortable... that the fire is controlled and contained right now," said Parks Canada Superintendent Katherine Patterson.
Sunday saw crews battling flare-ups to make sure it stayed that way.
"We did have four flare-ups all in different flare ups parts of the park and surrounding areas on the periphery of the fire," Patterson added. "Those are all fully extinguished."
The fire started a few kilometers west of the west block of the park on Saturday around noon before huge gusts of wind pulled it into the park itself. It burned a 20 kilometer long swath that varied from 1 to 5 kilometers deep until the crews were able to contain it.
Interview with Katherine Patterson"It's just amazing to me," Patterson said. "What could be a confusing and dangerous circumstance, how many different jurisdictions and groups all come together and learn how to communicate across a vast landscape and all come out safely."
She estimated throughout the day on Saturday over 200 volunteers from all around the region came out to help fight the blaze.
Some ranchers and park lost what they call "prairie wool" the surface layer of the grasses, but Patterson noted new grasses will come up. Ranchers will have lost some of their carry forward grasses they feed to cattle. They still have to assess how much damage was done to fencing in the area, but the high value hay stack yards and park infrastructure had only minor singeing or burning.
"This is not a good news story to have the fire, but coming through it with a lot less damage than we could have seen and no injuries feels pretty good," Patterson added.
The park is now officially closed to any visitors and they aren't requesting more volunteers at this time.
There are 25 Parks Canada staff who live in the area and from out of town at the park ready to deal with any issues that could come up over the next few days. They will also be communicating with the local municipalities and fire departments to see whether or not they have to stay on high alert.
"To see all those people pulling together for their neighbours," Patterson said. "That was really quire humbling and heartwarming."
Fri, May 3, 1:00 PM
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