An early morning fire has caused Marks Park to be closed to the public, according to the City of Parksville. Police escorted illegal campers out of the area around 10 a.m. City staff will conduct a hazard assessment and signs are posted advising the public to stay out of the park.
“The fire was relatively extensive and our crews, with heavy equipment moving in and out, will now be working in the park to cleanup fire debris and assess the affected areas,” said Deb Tardiff, manager of communications for the city, in a media release.
The fire affected some cedar trees, which were already in a compromised condition, creating a need for the hazard assessment, according to the city.
Marks Park will be closed for at least the next few days due to the fire and because a significant windstorm is expected, the city said.
