The heat wave and tinder dry conditions have prompted officials to close Stanley Park at night over wildfire fears.
The Vancouver park board says it will temporarily close all non-essential access to Stanley Park between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. starting Friday night and continuing each night until the fire risk has been reduced.
鈥淭he current conditions in Stanley Park are extreme right now and given the size of the park, the risk of a fire breaking out overnight when fewer people may notice it or report it presents a significant threat to the wellbeing of the park, its trees, wildlife, and everyone who relies on the park and its ongoing health,鈥� said Amit Gandha, director of park operations, in a statement Friday.
Park rangers will set up temporary overnight access-control points at five locations across the park to reduce the number of individuals in the park overnight.
Vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and anyone who does not require access to the park will be turned around at access-control points.
Anyone requiring entry into the park during the closure, including the #19 bus, emergency services, patrons and staff of park businesses, will be permitted to enter through the control points.
The causeway will remain open but access to the seawall will be closed. The board says signage will be placed along the access points of the seawall to advise pedestrians and cyclists of the closure, and rangers will be patrolling the park throughout the closure to monitor activity.