Tourist town Jasper faces devastation as wildfire continues

A massive wildfire that has destroyed about a third of Jasper, a tourist town in western Canada, remains out of control, but rain and cooler conditions are helping firefighters, authorities said Friday. Located in Alberta’s Jasper National Park, a major tourist hub, the town and the park, which attracts more than 2 million visitors a year, were evacuated Monday.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith noted, “Rain, cooler temperatures and the incredibly hard work of firefighters have resulted in a fire that has significantly diminished.” She added, “It is important to note that the fire is still not under control and it is still unsafe for people to return.”

Parks Canada reported between 10 mm and 15 mm of rain on Thursday, likely keeping fire activity low through the weekend. Of Jasper’s 1,113 buildings, 358, or more than 32%, were destroyed. Evacuee David Leoni told CTV television his family had lost the home they had lived in for 10 years, and expressed continued shock.

CN Rail resumed operations through Jasper National Park after the fire halted operations. With up to 10,000 evacuees in the city and 15,000 in the park, officials managed to protect critical infrastructure such as the hospital and schools. Jasper Park Lodge, operated by Fairmont, sustained minor damage. The Trans Mountain oil pipeline was unaffected. The federal government warned in April of a catastrophic wildfire season due to high temperatures and dry forests. This fire could be the most destructive in Alberta since the Fort McMurray fire in 2016.

(With input from agencies.)