Photo: Rob Gibson

The top half of Knox Mountain Drive has now been closed due to fire and smoke.

Parks Manager Blair Stewart tells Castanet, "the upper portion of Knox Mountain Park Drive will be closed to vehicles as of Saturday, July 21 due to dry conditions and a high fire risk. Vehicle traffic will not be allowed past the gate at the first lookout until conditions improve."

People can still access the first lookout of Knox Mountain by vehicle, if you want to go further you will have to go by foot or bicycle.

“Not only have we been experiencing hot weather over the past week, but the forecast indicates that temperatures will remain high over the coming weeks,” says Blair Stewart, Parks Services Manager. “Natural parks, grass, trees, and underbrush can easily ignite when the conditions are this dry. While the park is still open to visitors, this closure helps reduce the risk of accidental human-caused fires.”

The Knox Mountain Drive road closure will remain in effect until City staff has assessed that it is safe to reopen the road.