A fire ban comes into effect at 12:01 p.m. today (July 12) for Banff National Park due to the elevated fire danger. Lighting or maintaining fires is strictly prohibited.

The fire ban includes all front and backcountry campgrounds and day-use areas. The fire ban also applies to the community of Lake Louise.

Officials explain the fire ban is to ensure the safety of visitors, and residents, and for the protection of park infrastructure.

"After several days of hot, dry weather, Banff is experiencing drought-like conditions," explains the news release. "A combination of dry forest fuels (branches, grass, logs) and dry organic layers (needles, decomposing fuels, and soil) are the contributing reasons for this."

The fire ban will be lifted when conditions permit it.

This fire ban includes all open fires and prohibits the use of the following items and all other items not mentioned explicitly as permitted:

  • Wood or briquette campfires
  • Wood, charcoal or briquette barbecues
  • Outdoor wood-burning stoves (including cooking shelters)
  • Turkey fryers
  • Tiki torches

Use of the following items is permitted during the fire ban provided they are under direct supervision and certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories (UL):

  • Portable propane fire pits (prohibited at overflow campgrounds)
  • Gas or propane stoves and barbeques designed for cooking or heating
  • Propane or gas-fueled lanterns (enclosed flame)
  • Patio heaters (propane, catalytic, or infrared/radiant)
  • Indoor wood-burning stoves within fully enclosed permanent buildings (not wall tents or camper vans)

While we cannot avoid naturally occurring wildfires (ex: lightning strikes), we can avoid human-caused fires. Please do your part to keep our communities and first responders safe by not lighting illegal campfires and properly disposing of cigarettes and other combustible items.

If you see any wildfires, illegal campfires, or suspicious smoke, please report to Banff Emergency Dispatch: 403-762-4506.

For updates visit here.