Up to 50% of the buildings in the town of Jasper in the Canadian province of Alberta were destroyed this week as wildfires covering 36,000 hectares in Jasper National Park converged on the town driven by 100km/h winds, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said yesterday.
Authorities ordered all the town’s approximately 4,700 residents to evacuate within five hours at 10pm Monday night.
Jasper Municipality said the most significant structural damage was concentrated on the west side of town, while firefighters have so far prevented significant damage to much of the infrastructure in the east side.
The fire also damaged a number of bridges around the town and throughout the national park.
Escaping the flames were the town’s hospital, emergency services building, schools, and wastewater treatment plant, the municipality said.
Cooler temperatures and some 15mm of rain starting in the early hours of Thursday had “significantly subdued” the blaze, the municipality said.
But it warned that the fire was “still out of control and significant work remains before conditions are safe enough to allow for limited re-entry into the park”.
“Crews are taking advantage of today’s conditions to make progress on containing the fire and the community, before conditions return to hot and dry,” the municipality added yesterday.
‘Profound sorrow’
Reception centres for evacuees have been set up in Grande Prairie and Calgary.
In an open letter to Jasper residents, the town’s mayor Richard Ireland said: “I write to you today with profound sorrow as we begin to come to terms with the devastating impact of last night’s wildfire that has ravaged our beloved community. The destruction and loss that many of you are facing and feeling is beyond description and comprehension; my deepest sympathies go out to each of you.
“Our first priority continues to be your safety and well-being. The Incident Management Team together with responders on the ground, continue to work valiantly to protect our town – our home – and to coordinate supports for evacuees in other communities.
“I want to assure you that your Mayor and Councillors are committed to supporting our community through this truly unprecedented challenge and beyond. We will work closely with all levels of government, other organizations, and volunteers to coordinate relief efforts and provide essential resources and information.”
