Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park may open intermittently today, Sunday, August 5, reports Parks Canada.

The highway has been closed to through traffic since August 1, though the north and south ends allow access to sections of the park, by the Wardle wildfire.

The wildfire is active adjacent to Highway 93 on both sides of the road. Smoke continues to limit visibility at times, but Parks Canada aims to safely open the road intermittently to through traffic as early as Sunday afternoon.

The Wardle fire (pictured) is still listed as 1,200 hectares in scale. Ninety personnel are fighting the blaze, along with nine helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment.

Parks Canada states it will only open Highway 93 when it is safe to do so. Safety depends on how intense fire activity becomes during the day and how much the fire moves, if smoke limits visibility, and winds that could cause trees to fall onto the highway. If any of these risk factors are identified, the highway will be closed.

It is anticipated that the highway will be opened intermittently as of Sunday afternoon, August 5.

“The safety of the public, our crews, infrastructure and neighbouring lands is Parks Canada’s top priority. Parks Canada recognizes the importance of Highway 93 to the local business community, residents of the Columbia Valley, commuters, commercial operators, and visitors and is working to safely open the highway as soon as possible,” Parks Canada stated.

Motorists should be prepared to wait at roadblocks intermittently or long-term with little notice. Travellers should be prepared with enough fuel and supplies in case they are required to turn around and take an alternate route via Highway 1 to Golden and Highway 95 to East Kootenay communities to the south.

Columbia Valley communities and businesses remain open. Areas at the north and south ends of Kootenay National Park, including the Radium Hot Pools, Storm Mountain Lodge and Shadow Mountain, remain accessible.

In the south of Kootenay National Park, access from Radium Hot Springs to McLeod Meadows is open.

In the north of Kootenay National Park, access to Paint Pots from the Junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) is open.

All trails, backcountry campgrounds and day-use areas remain closed from the Rockwall trail south to the Dolly Varden trail, including the Prospectors Valley area.

Travelling between the hours of 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. is recommended. Fire activity is more likely to be reduced during these hours. However, smoke may still affect visibility.

Check with DriveBC to find out more when Highway 93 may open.

Photos courtesy Parks Canada

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