Fire in Wood Buffalo National Park closes area along Peace River

A section of Wood Buffalo National Park has been closed after a fire crossed the road near Carson's Landing.

Parks Canada says theentire area on the north bank of the Peace River from Moose Island to Peace Point is closed due to the unpredictable fire behaviour and the ongoing firefighting operations in the area.

It says there is no impact on facilities or visitor services.

There are two scheduled openings of the road for convoys.

A convoy will leave the Wood Buffalo National Park office at 149 McDougal Road in Fort Smith on Tuesday at 9 a.m. for people bound from Fort Smith to Moose Island or Peace Point. People can drive their own vehicles or ride in Parks Canada vehicles if you choose to leave a vehicle in Fort Smith.

On Wednesday, there will be a road opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for people who wish to move their vehicles out of Moose Island to either Peace Point or Fort Smith.

Parks Canada says these road openings could be rescheduled if fire conditions change. It also says theMikisewCree First Nationreserve at Peace Point remains accessible.

Thereare eight other fires burning in the park, but none of them isthreatening people or property.