Fort Smith (Aug 25/03) - Wood Buffalo National Park officials can't make any predictions about a forest fire southwest of Fort Smith.

Park superintendent Josie Weninger says it is difficult to know the future of the fire. "I want to stress it's very much dependent on weather."

As of Saturday, the fire was not growing, having been beaten back by cool, damp weather and the continuing efforts of fire crews.

During a fly-over Friday, the fire, which is on the Alberta side of the border, appeared out in many areas. However, smoke was rising from numerous hot spots.

The park has taken an unusual action in case the fire flares up again in the coming weeks and moves east toward Pine Lake. It brought in heavy equipment to build a roughly 10 km fire break just west of Pine Lake Road. The Pine Lake area contains 16 cottages, a day-use area, a campsite, the WBNP fire base and land that will become two reserves.

"We don't normally put in lines like that in a national park, but we're cognizant of the fact that the fire is 14 km away from Pine Lake," says Weninger.

Within the fire's 84,500-hectare perimeter, large sections of forest were burned, although other areas appeared untouched by the blaze.

The fire started July 30, apparently from lightning. It was being monitored and growing slowly until steady 40-km wind on Aug. 16-17 more than doubled its size in two days.

Mike Keizer, the park's communications manager, says the fire never threatened Fort Smith. "Fifty kilometres away is a long way in fire terms."

Weninger says the fact the fire was not initially fought does not make her question Parks Canada policy of allowing some forest fires to run their natural course. "Fire is a natural event. It renews the environment."

She adds that every fire is assessed and appropriate action taken.

However, Fort Smith Mayor Peter Martselos says his preference would be to see all fires fought.

"There's always a concern to see fire close to Fort Smith," he said, during a fly-over of the fire on Friday with Weninger.

The first-hand look at the fire appeared to reassure Martselos. "I'm very glad to see the first just about out, except for hot spots."

When the fire suddenly grew on the Aug. 16-17 weekend, smoke covered Fort Smith and ash was falling on the community.

Martselos says there was concern in town, but the fears were calmed by information from WBNP.

The smoke darkened the sky that weekend. Fort Smith resident Karl Cox was driving on Hay Camp Road, about 65 km from the fire.

"I had to turn on the lights to see how fast I was driving," he says, explaining the high smoke created what looked like a late dusk even though it was early in the afternoon.

"I was at the point of asking my girlfriend if there was an eclipse," Cox says.

Waterbombers fought the fire early last week.

Also early last week, the smoke closed Pine Lake Road, Parsons Lake Road and Hay Camp Road for a couple of days. There are no structures in the area of the fire, but some traplines are in the area.