Early reports indicate that a third to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed by a wildfire. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the impact on the community is expected to be substantial.
Parks Canada has stated that it will provide details on lost structures once they can accurately and responsibly confirm what has been burned. Despite some overnight rain, the wildfire remains out of control, and crews continue to battle the blaze in Jasper National Park.
Images surfacing on social media depict blocks of homes and businesses reduced to charred foundations and vehicles burned to their hubcaps. Firefighting resources from Calgary, Edmonton, and Sherwood Park have been dispatched to the scene. The province has also requested assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces, and federal aid is on the way.
The wildfire forced about 20,000 park visitors and 5,000 Jasper residents to evacuate on Monday night. Initially directed west to British Columbia, evacuees were later redirected back to Alberta due to B.C.’s limited capacity to assist. Those without a place to stay have been accommodated in evacuation centers in Grande Prairie and Calgary.
Efforts to contain the fires, including water drops and fire guards, were hampered by high winds. Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis described the rapid advance of the fire, stating, “That wind gust moved that fire five kilometers in probably less than 30 minutes, with a wall of fire about 100 meters high.”