Wildfire prompts closures in Banff, Kootenay parks

CTV National News: Wildfire rage in B.C. About 160 wildfires are raging across B.C. burning over 180 thousand hectares of land, forcing more evacuations. Melanie Nagy reports.

BANFF, Alta. - A wildfire near the boundary between Alberta and British Columbia has prompted Parks Canada to close trails and evacuate hikers and campers in Kootenay and Banff national parks.

Parks Canada says the fire was spotted in the Verdant Creek area of Kootenay National Park on Saturday morning and has grown since then.

Personnel and helicopters were dispatched to manage the fire and Parks Canada closed the Egypt Lake, Redearth Pass and Healy Pass areas as a precaution.

Staff evacuated backcountry campsites and trails in the area and contacted visitors with camping reservations to advise them of the closure.

Hikers in the area were being turned around, and backcountry camping permits in the area have been cancelled until further notice.

Parks Canada says crews are also managing small wildfires in the Emerald Lake and Amiskwi areas of Yoho National Park, but that no areas there are closed at this time.