Map released showing buildings destroyed by Jasper fire

JASPER – Jasper residents and business owners now know whether their homes and/or businesses have been destroyed by the devastating wildfires in the national park.

On Saturday (July 27), the City of Jasper released a map and address listing of the areas in the Alberta mountain town where wildfires have caused the most damage.

On the colored map, green indicates no visible damage, yellow is visible damage, and red is destruction.

The municipality says that the ‘information is still preliminary and is based on the damage visible from the street.’

“With evacuees spread across multiple communities, staying in shelters or with friends and family, we are challenged to communicate during an evacuation, and this is the most efficient way to reach as many Jasper residents as possible. Updates will continue to be provided on the City of Jasper website and Facebook page,” the city said.

According to the map, the greatest destruction occurred in the south and southwest of the city.

“Buildings marked ‘not damaged’ on the map may also have internal smoke and water damage. Consider this a preliminary description of the affected properties in Jasper,” the city said.

Some of the destroyed buildings noted on the map include Pine Grove Senior Citizen’s Manor, Anglican Church Hall, Mount Robson Inn, Maligne Inn, and Sunwapta Apartments.

Both the Esso gas station and the Petro-Canada gas station were destroyed by fire.

Listed on the map as having no visible signs of damage are the Jasper RCMP police station and municipal offices, the town hall and the maintenance complex. The CNR building, the Parks Information Centre, the Cottage Medical Clinic, the Mountain Park Housing Co-operative, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, the Best Western Inn, the Marmot Lodge, the Cavell Court Apartments and the Sawridge Inn are also listed on the map as having no visible signs of damage.

In an update on Saturday afternoon’s devastating wildfires, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) said critical infrastructure in the town of Jasper has been protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant. However, firefighting efforts continue in the town and national park.

On Friday (July 26), Stephen Lacroix, senior deputy minister and director general of AEMA, said it will be weeks before residents, who fled the looming wildfire threat last Monday night, can return to the fire-ravaged city.

Since then, approximately 17,100 people have been evacuated from Jasper National Park.

According to Parks Canada, the size of the wildfire is estimated at approximately 32,000 hectares, or 320 square kilometres, making it the largest wildfire in Jasper National Park in more than 100 years.

About 30 percent of the city’s buildings were destroyed by the wildfire.