In an effort to protect public safety, BC Parks, in co-ordination with the BC Wildfire Service, will close Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park to inbound traffic effective immediately.

The closure will remain in effect until further notice.

BC Wildfire Service resources are actively engaged with a 4,126-hecatre wildfire burning in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park and, to ensure the safety of the public, this closure is necessary. Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is a high-alpine backcountry park accessible only by hiking trails, which would make an evacuation of the area difficult if it were needed. This proactive measure will enable a safe and orderly exit of the public from the area.

For more information about the closure, please visit the BC Parks website: www.bcparks.ca

The Southeast Fire Centre extends from the U.S. border in the south to the Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west, to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. The Southeast Fire Centre includes the Selkirk Natural Resource District and the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call *5555 on a cellphone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

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