Banff wildfire causes backcountry closures

A wildfire in Banff National Park has sparked some backcountry closures.

The Spreading Creek wildfire has burned close to 7,000 hectares of forest so far.

Officials are trying to keep the Icefields Parkway open between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. MT and say that while it is contained for now, there is potential it could spread.

"Our objectives are safety for our staff and visitors and then values," said Rick Kubian, spokesperson for Parks Canada.

"We're ensuring that the facilities that are near are protected, and then our third objective is to try and maintain Highway 93 north as open as we can."

A number of closures on some backcountry areas in the vicinity of Saskatchewan River Crossing are in effect.

Kubian says current closures will likely remain in place for the next five to seven days.