Massive wildfire burning near Banff caused by lightning, Canada

The blaze was reportedly started by lightning.

Barry Shellian, a wildfire ranger with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resources, tells Global News that fires like these are a natural and healthy process for forest rejuvenation.

“Wildfire is an integral part of Alberta’s fire dependent landscape. Wildfire helps increases and maintains a healthy forest and promotes biodiversity for the future.”

Four helicopters and around a dozen firefighters are currently battling the blaze, and are being helped by natural barriers like the North Saskatchewan River.

This is the first blaze of it’s kind in the area in 400 years, according to Shellian.