A B.C. Wildfire aircraft drops retardant on a fire on Knox Mountain, July 30, 2017. The City of Kelowna is hoping to avoid a repeat and will ban all vehicle traffic in the park as of Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018.
(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)
August 02, 2018 - 2:34 PM
KELOWNA - An extreme fire danger rating has pushed Kelowna to entirely close Knox Mountain Drive in the city’s biggest natural park beginning this weekend.
The upper portion of the park’s access road was already closed to vehicles due to fire risk, park services manager Blair Stewart said in a press release, but recent hot, dry weather has pushed the risk higher and the road will now close Saturday, Aug. 4 until further notice.
Cyclists and hikers are still free to enter the park, Stewart said, but he urged neighbours to be vigilant and to call 911 should they spot smoke in the park.
Knox Mountain has recently been the scene of a suspicious fire near the High Pointe community and down below near Trench Place.
Stewart said smoking is prohibited in all parks and public spaces in Kelowna, nor are campfire or barbecues allowed in city and regional district parks.
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