Parks Canada is urging visitors to the West Coast Trail, a popular hiking destination, to postpone non-essential travel to the area as the Mount Underwood wildfire on Vancouver Island continues to grow close by.

The wildfire, burning south of Port Alberni, B.C., is currently 21.56 square kilometres (2,156 hectares) in size and burning out of control. Evacuation orders and alerts have been issued for a number of properties within the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Tseshaht First Nation.

In a statement, the agency 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.

Parks Canada said anyone already on the tra

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