U.S. wildfire crosses border into Waterton Lakes National Park

A wildfire that originated in the U.S. has made its way across the border into Alberta, Canada.

Parks Canada said in an update that after dry and windy conditions hit the area, the Boundary wildfire has spotted north across Boundary Creek and the border and is now burning into the park.

The fire is roughly estimated at 1,100 hectares in size and is classified as out of control.

Currently, the winds and fire activity has diminished and Parks Canada says they have activated a second helicopter to fight the fire. Both helicopters are directly suppressing the fire’s east perimeter until dark by bucketing water with the objective of holding the wildfire at the avalanche path.

The U.S. Northern Rockies Type 1 Incident Management Team has 19 firefighters assigned to the fire and are stationed at Boundary Bay Backcountry Campground. Parks Canada and U.S. fire managers are coordinating efforts in regards to fire activity and response.

Waterton was devastated by a wildfire a year ago which consumed more than 19,000 hectares within the park and led to a two-week mandatory evacuation.

-With files from The Canadian Press.