Parks Canada faces criticism over response to Jasper wildfire

Parks Canada, the federal agency that manages the country’s national parks, has dismissed criticism that the town of Jasper has become vulnerable to wildfires because it has failed to remove more dead trees infested with pine beetles.

A massive wildfire destroyed nearly a third of Jasper’s structures last week, but Canada’s Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault announced Monday that the fires in the city have now been extinguished. However, fires continue to rage in Jasper National Park, with no clear timeline for residents to return.

The ongoing outbreak of the mountain pine beetle, which began in British Columbia in the early 1990s, has devastated more than 18 million hectares of Canadian forests. Critics say Parks Canada has focused too much on preserving natural ecosystems instead of removing beetle-infested trees around Jasper. Ron Hallman, the agency’s director, emphasized the multifaceted efforts to minimize fire risk, including controlled burns, installing sprinkler systems and mechanical tree removal.

Climate change has exacerbated the situation with milder winters and drier summers, allowing the beetle to spread. Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland noted that the city’s preventative measures had prevented greater devastation during the recent bushfires.

(With input from agencies.)