Jasper National Park issues prescribed burn notice for east gate area

People driving between Jasper and Hintonwill notice a fire in the national park starting on Tuesday, but are urged not to call 911.

Parks Canada said it intends toignite a350-hectare prescribed fire along Highway 16 between the east gate, just over 30kilometreswest ofHinton,and Miette Hot Springs Road.

• Jasper National Park could face 'change in landscape' due to mountain pine beetle infestation
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Officials expect the Fiddle West fire to takeone or two days to burn.

Smoke will be visible in the Hinton and Brule areas, and whileHighway 16 will remain open, speed reductions may be in place.

Parks Canada is usinga sprinkler system and will remove some treesaround infrastructure to limit the spread of fire.

The fire will create a natural fire guard to help prevent both wildfire and mountain pine beetles from moving beyond theJasperNational Park boundaries and into the timber forests of Alberta, Parks Canada said in a news release Tuesday.