A wildfire that has razed hundreds of structures in the town of Jasper is now the largest blaze recorded in Jasper National Park in a century, and it could continue burning for months, a Parks Canada official said Saturday.
“We’re going to be working on this wildfire, we expect, over the next three months at least,” Landon Shepherd, a deputy incident commander, was quoted as saying during a news conference in the nearby community of Hinton.“What the last five years have taught us is that the fire season in Jasper tends to last well into the fall.”
The region received approximately 1.2 centimeters of rain over the past day and a half, yet there remain active hot spots near the community.
Over 20,000 residents in and around the picturesque town nestled in Alberta‘s Rocky Mountains were ordered to evacuate late Monday as fast-moving wildfires approached. Parks Canada reported that 358 of the town’s 1,113 structures have been destroyed.
In an online update, Parks Canada noted that fire suppression efforts have been progressing well within the town. The federal agency also mentioned that power is being restored to parts of the downtown core and to critical infrastructure, which will aid in accelerating damage assessment and recovery efforts.
Earlier on Saturday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith suggested during her radio call-in show that bus tours be organized for evacuated Jasper residents to view the damage and understand what to expect when they are allowed to return.
Christine Nadon, the incident commander with the Municipality of Jasper, emphasized that conditions are not yet safe for any such tours due to chemicals released from burned structures and the ongoing fire at the town’s edge. “That is a plan we’re working on and will have available as soon as we can,” she said, noting that her own home was among those destroyed.
Smith, Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, and other dignitaries toured the evacuated town on Friday. The premier informed listeners on Saturday that she expects it will be nearly 28 days before Jasper residents can return home, referencing a similar timeframe for the Fort McMurray residents affected by a catastrophic fire in 2016.
Provincial wildfire officials reported that an estimated 17,100 Albertans are evacuated due to wildfires as of Saturday. Across Alberta, there are 157 wildfires burning, with 44 classified as out of control, 45 being held, and 68 under control.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for three communities of the Little Red River Cree Nation, as well as Chipewyan Lake. Additional support from Ontario, Quebec, Australia, and South Africa is expected to arrive on Sunday, according to the province.
Meanwhile, officials in British Columbia report that fire risks are improving due to rain and cooler temperatures. The BC Wildfire Service provided a situational update indicating reduced fire behavior on some major fires, with cool and showery conditions anticipated for the western half of the province on Sunday, extending into parts of the Interior.
Currently, there are about 385 fires burning across British Columbia, including six that are considered “of note” due to their threat to people or property or their high visibility.
“We’re going to be working on this wildfire, we expect, over the next three months at least,” Landon Shepherd, a deputy incident commander, was quoted as saying during a news conference in the nearby community of Hinton.“What the last five years have taught us is that the fire season in Jasper tends to last well into the fall.”
The region received approximately 1.2 centimeters of rain over the past day and a half, yet there remain active hot spots near the community.
Over 20,000 residents in and around the picturesque town nestled in Alberta‘s Rocky Mountains were ordered to evacuate late Monday as fast-moving wildfires approached. Parks Canada reported that 358 of the town’s 1,113 structures have been destroyed.
In an online update, Parks Canada noted that fire suppression efforts have been progressing well within the town. The federal agency also mentioned that power is being restored to parts of the downtown core and to critical infrastructure, which will aid in accelerating damage assessment and recovery efforts.
Earlier on Saturday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith suggested during her radio call-in show that bus tours be organized for evacuated Jasper residents to view the damage and understand what to expect when they are allowed to return.
Christine Nadon, the incident commander with the Municipality of Jasper, emphasized that conditions are not yet safe for any such tours due to chemicals released from burned structures and the ongoing fire at the town’s edge. “That is a plan we’re working on and will have available as soon as we can,” she said, noting that her own home was among those destroyed.
Smith, Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland, and other dignitaries toured the evacuated town on Friday. The premier informed listeners on Saturday that she expects it will be nearly 28 days before Jasper residents can return home, referencing a similar timeframe for the Fort McMurray residents affected by a catastrophic fire in 2016.
Provincial wildfire officials reported that an estimated 17,100 Albertans are evacuated due to wildfires as of Saturday. Across Alberta, there are 157 wildfires burning, with 44 classified as out of control, 45 being held, and 68 under control.
Evacuation orders remain in effect for three communities of the Little Red River Cree Nation, as well as Chipewyan Lake. Additional support from Ontario, Quebec, Australia, and South Africa is expected to arrive on Sunday, according to the province.
Meanwhile, officials in British Columbia report that fire risks are improving due to rain and cooler temperatures. The BC Wildfire Service provided a situational update indicating reduced fire behavior on some major fires, with cool and showery conditions anticipated for the western half of the province on Sunday, extending into parts of the Interior.
Currently, there are about 385 fires burning across British Columbia, including six that are considered “of note” due to their threat to people or property or their high visibility.
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