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Parks Canada Urging Visitors to West Coast Trail to Postpone Non-Essential Travel Due to Mount Underwood Fire
Flying drones near wildfires halts aerial firefighting and risks lives, with fines up to $100,000 and jail time for violators, BC Wildfire Service warns after drone sighting.
- On August 14, 2025, Parks Canada advised visitors to delay any non-urgent trips to the West Coast Trail due to the Mount Underwood wildfire approaching Vancouver Island.
- The wildfire, which has expanded to 3,406 hectares, is spreading unchecked roughly 12 kilometres to the south of the city of Port Alberni, prompting evacuation orders across multiple regional districts and the declaration of a local state of emergency.
- Parks Canada closed the trail to new reservations, offered full refunds minus reservation fees for August 13 to September 12, and advised existing hikers to complete their journey while remaining ready for possible exit orders at Nitinat Narrows.
- Officials warned that drone flights near wildfires endanger firefighting aircraft and delay efforts, with prohibitions up to five nautical miles around fires and penalties up to $100,000 or one year in jail for violators.
- The wildfire led to power outages and restricted services in Bamfield and Balaats'adt, causing Parks Canada to request that hikers depart from these areas promptly after completing the trail to help ensure that residents have access to necessary resources.
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Parks Canada urging visitors to West Coast Trail to postpone non-essential travel due to Mount Underwood fire
In a statement, Parks Canada said it is not accepting new reservations for the trail at this time. Anyone with reservations for Aug. 13 to Sept. 12 is eligible for a full refund, excluding the reservation fee.
·Canada
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Total News Sources5
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution100% Left
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- 100% of the sources lean Left
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L 100%
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