Kelowna park not safe to reopen yet

Knox Mountain Park in Kelowna remains closed to the public, including Knox Mountain Drive, the dog park and the path to Paul’s Tomb, after the wildfire in the park on Canada Day, Saturday, July 1.

The city said field assessments with the Kelowna Fire Department and parks staff were done Tuesday morning (July 4) and it was determined the area is not yet safe to fully open the park to the public. While the fire is officially classified as under control, hazards remain in the areas that no longer have an active fire, such as sink holes caused by burning tree roots.

“There are hotspots, and wildfire risk in the park is still high. It’s really important that people abide by the closure notice. Unfortunately, the public are still entering the park and there have been close calls between firefighters and individuals ignoring the closure,” Tara Bergeson, urban forestry supervisor, said.

Bergeson said while the city wants residents to be able to access and use our outdoor amenities, the city’s priority remains to extinguish the fire completely and reduce the risk of a flair-up in the park and to nearby residential neighbourhoods.

Fire and parks staff will continue to assess the park on a daily basis.

Failure to comply with the closure can result in fines up to $500.