The Municipality of Jasper has announced that residents can begin returning home on Friday, August 16. For updates, residents should stay connected to the municipality’s website and social media. A telephone town hall will be held today, Monday, August 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., where evacuees can get information on the wildfire situation and ask questions. The town hall can be joined online at alberta.ca/emergency or by phone at 1-833-380-0691, with a recording available afterward.
The Jasper-Alberta-Canada Intergovernmental Redevelopment Committee, consisting of senior government staff from Jasper, Parks Canada, and the Alberta government, has been formed to oversee recovery and rebuilding efforts, initially focusing on transitional and interim housing needs. A housing needs assessment survey has been launched to help secure suitable housing, with translation services available in multiple languages by calling 211.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Amber Bracken
Bus tours for Jasper residents to view the community are ongoing and can be registered for online at https://www.alberta.ca/emergency An evacuation order for Jasper and Jasper National Park remains in effect, but re-entry is set for August 16, subject to meeting the re-entry criteria. Tourists and potential visitors should be aware that the community will need time to recover before accommodating visitors. An evacuation alert still remains for Saddle Hills County and the Little Red River Cree Nation communities.
Currently, there are 121 wildfires burning across Alberta, with 12 classified as out of control. The wildfire in Jasper National Park, estimated at almost 33,000 hectares, remains out of control but is being managed with significant support. The Semo Complex wildfire, over 100,000 hectares, is also out of control, with extensive firefighting resources deployed. Fire bans and restrictions are in place. For more updates visit: the Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard.
The Canadian Red Cross offers $750 in financial assistance per household for evacuated Jasper residents, requiring registration with the Red Cross. (redcross.ca/albertawildfires) For insurance questions, Albertans can contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada through https://www.ibc.ca/stay-protected/severe-weather-centre/wildfire-season or the Phone: 1-844-227-5422 and Email AskIBCWest@IBC.ca (Western and Pacific regions)
Emergency evacuation payments of $1,250 for adults and $500 for children are available for those under evacuation orders. Evacuees are encouraged to apply for these emergency payments online at evacuationpayment.alberta.ca, by calling the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 or by visiting an Alberta Supports office for assistance. Locations can be found at alberta.ca/alberta-supports.
Road conditions are monitored through 511 Alberta, and Highway 16, 93, and 93A have specific operational hours. For more information, visit: 511 Alberta
Alberta Health Services is working hard to restore basic services, including the hospital’s emergency department. Schools in Jasper will not be ready to open for the scheduled start of the school year, however, alternatives arrangements are being made including sending students to the Hinton and Edson school locations and also exploring online learning options.
Offers of support can be emailed to EmergencySupportOffers@gov.ab.ca. and Alberta Red Cross and mental health and addiction resources are available through various helplines including counsellingalberta.com, ahs.ca/wildfire, and ab.211.ca For further information on emergency preparedness, visit https://www.alberta.ca/emergency-preparedness
