The City of Merritt has ordered the immediate closure of forested areas and trails around the edge of the municipality as wildfire conditions remain a concern. All unauthorized access to affected forested areas and trails is prohibited. “The public is asked to respect this closure and refrain from entering these areas until further notice,” the city said. Under the bylaw, people are not permitted to enter a closed area without specific authorization from the fire chief. The city has not identified a specific wildfire prompting the closure in its Monday announcement.