THE CANADIAN PRESS
WASKESIU, Sask. - Crews were working Monday to protect the historic home of Grey Owl - one of Canada's first conservationists - from forest fires burning in Prince Albert National Park.
The fires were among more than 80 new blazes in Saskatchewan and Alberta sparked by lighting strikes in the last few days - including one that forced the closure of Highway 63 south of Fort McMurray, Alta.
Parks Canada staff installed sprinklers at Grey Owl's tiny log cabin near Kingsmere Lake as crews tried to extinguish flames that were burning about a kilometre away.
"We are going to take all reasonable measures to try and protect this facility," said Adam Pidwerbeski, a Parks Canada spokesman.
"There is no immediate threat but we are monitoring it very, very carefully."
Grey Owl was an Englishman named Archibald Belaney, who came to Canada in 1906 and adopted a native identity. He became well-known the world over as a writer, trapper and guide concerned about preserving the wilderness. His life was the subject of a 1999 feature film starring Pierce Brosnan.
Alberta reported 72 wildfires Monday, 22 of which were out of control.
Most of the fires were burning in the Slave Lake, Lac la Biche and Fort McMurray areas of northern Alberta.
"We are fortunate that none of them have threatened any homes or property, due in large part to the fast action of our firefighters," said Rob Harris, a spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
Two of the fires were burning near the community of Loon Lake and another near the summer village of Baptiste Lake. Heavy smoke was drifting into Fort McMurray, a city with a population of 70,000.
Saskatchewan was reporting 44 forest fires, including 38 new fires. Four of the blazes were out of control.
The fire threat in both provinces was being exacerbated by hot, tinder-dry conditions and an unusual number of lightning strikes.
Weather forecasters were predicting more lighting strikes later in the week before rain showers that are expected to sweep through the region.
"The situation is likely to get worse before it gets better, particularly when we see so much lightning activity," said Harris.
Lighting strikes can cause fires beneath the surface of the ground that can later spring up and spread, especially in windy conditions.
Alberta had mobilized almost 500 firefighters to deal with the wild fires along with a fleet of 22 waterbombers and 65 helicopters.
The dry conditions prompted Alberta to impose a fire ban at 12 provincial parks and recreation areas until further notice.
Officials believe three small forest fires this weekend were caused by camp fires igniting fluff from poplar trees.
