A portion of Highway 93 through Kootenay National Park remains partially closed due to wildfire. It will remain closed until it is safe to reopen, Parks Canada reported.

DriveBC reports the highway may be closed until at least noon tomorrow (August 9).

Parks Canada continues to manage the Wardle wildfire in the national park, which is causing the highway closures. The fire is now about 1,420 hectares in size and has 120 firefighting personnel, 11 helicopters and two pieces of heavy equipment combatting it today (August 8) – the ninth day it is has been burning.

In order for the highway to be considered safe the following factors are evaluated: The risk of falling trees onto the highway; anticipated movement of the fire; and heavy amounts of smoke that could affect visibility.

No local communities are at risk from Wardle wildfire.

The north and south ends of Kootenay National Park are open from Castle Junction to Paint Pots and from Radium Hot Springs to McLeod Meadows including Radium Hot Pools, Storm Mountain and Shadow Lake lodges.

The Columbia Valley and East Kootenay may still be access via Highway 1 to Golden and then Highway 95 south or via Crowsnest Pass and Highway 3.

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

Check DriveBC for highway updates.

Lead image: Having burned to the edge of Highway 93, the Wardle wildfire has created the risk of falling trees that need to be cleared before highway passage will be determined as safe by Parks Canada. Parks Canada photo

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