Second Wildfire in Less Than a Week Extinguished in Yoho National Park

A second small wildfire in less than a week has been extinguished in Yoho National Park after Parks Canada crews quickly knocked down a lightning-caused blaze high on the slopes of Mount Ogden.

The fire was first reported Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 5, on the mountain's west slope overlooking the Yoho Valley, prompting an immediate response from Parks Canada fire crews.

By Thursday morning, the agency announced the fire had been fully extinguished.

"There are currently no wildfires in Yoho National Park," Parks Canada said in its Aug. 6 update.

The wildfire measured approximately 0.01 hectares, about the size of a small residential lot, and never posed a threat to public safety or infrastructure.

Parks Canada said the fire was a holdover fire caused by previous lightning in the area, meaning it likely smouldered unnoticed for a period before becoming visible.

When the fire was discovered around 4 p.m. on Aug. 5, Parks Canada deployed an initial attack crew along with two helicopters. Visitors travelling the Yoho Valley Road may have noticed smoke and helicopters repeatedly bucketing water onto the mountainside as crews worked to contain the blaze.

No trail or area closures were announced during the response.

Mount Ogden rises above the Yoho Valley near Sherbrooke Lake, a popular hiking destination that attracts visitors throughout the summer. While the mountain itself is a challenging scramble, its steep western slopes are visible from several well-travelled areas of the park.

The incident comes as Yoho remains under a park-wide fire ban introduced July 30 because of elevated wildfire danger. The restrictions prohibit wood campfires, charcoal barbecues and other wood-burning devices in both frontcountry and backcountry areas, while propane stoves and barbecues remain permitted.

Although wildfire activity in the park has so far been limited, this marks the second fire Parks Canada has responded to in less than a week.

On Aug. 3, crews extinguished another 0.01-hectare wildfire between Emerald Lake and Burgess Pass after dispatching an initial attack crew and a helicopter. That fire was brought under control within hours, never threatened visitors or infrastructure, and did not result in any closures around one of Yoho's busiest tourist destinations.

Parks Canada is continuing to ask visitors to report any wildfires, illegal campfires or suspicious smoke to Emergency Dispatch immediately while fire restrictions remain in effect.