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Highway 93 still under partial closure
A portion of Highway 93 remains closed through Kootenay National Park as the Wardle wildfire continues to burn, now at 2,250 hectares.
A dozen helicopters are being employed along with 125 ground personnel and eight pieces of heavy equipment on the fire today, Parks Canada reported this afternoon.
Highway 93 is closed in from Castle Mountain to Vermillion Crossing and from Vermillion Crossing to Radium Hot Springs due to fire operations.
Detours are available on Highway 1 via Golden and Highway 95. Travellers from Alberta seeking to go to the Columbia Valley and East Kootenay can also access the area via Crowsnest Pass and Highway 3.
In order for the highway to be considered safe to reopen, 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.
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.
All trails, backcountry campgrounds and day-use areas remain closed from Rockwall trail south to Dolly Varden trail, including the Prospectors Valley, Crooks Meadow Campground and Kootenay Park Lodge.
DriveBC expects an update on the status of the highway at 9 p.m.
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