September 3, 2022
Specialized firefighters are on the ground building a protection line between the powerline and the perimeter of the Chetamon wildfire, which is currently 500 metres above distance from the powerline. Parks Canada is working very closely with ATCO to protect the power poles, which have special fire protection wrapping and can withstand surface fire activity. Specialized structural protection contractors are being deployed to install high-volume sprinklers along critical infrastructure and visitor facilities.
Six helicopters are now dedicated to this over 400 hectare wildfire, focused on bucketing water onto the lower slopes of the highly visible wildfire. There are currently 47 Parks Canada firefighters and personnel committed, with another 30 more joining the team on Sunday.
Strong and gusting winds along with unseasonably hot weather are making firefighting efforts challenging, but the fire is currently only spreading Northeast on mid and upper slopes from Chetamon peak toward Vine Creek.