logo
  • News
    • Community
    • Local Government
    • Sports
    • Alberta Politics
    • Opinion
    • Deke
  • Events
  • Jasper Builds
  • Peaks & Valleys
    • Wildlife
    • Hiking and Climbing
    • Biking
    • Fishing
    • Snow Sports
  • Culture
    • Jasper Arts & Culture
    • Local Dining
    • Local Literature
  • Jasper History
  • Support
    • News
      • Community
      • Local Government
      • Sports
      • Alberta Politics
      • Opinion
      • Deke
    • Events
    • Jasper Builds
    • Peaks & Valleys
      • Wildlife
      • Hiking and Climbing
      • Biking
      • Fishing
      • Snow Sports
    • Culture
      • Jasper Arts & Culture
      • Local Dining
      • Local Literature
    • Jasper History
    • Support
Be wildfire prepared, not wildfire scared
Vine Creek Prescribed Fire, JNP, spring 2016 // B Covey
Editorial, Opinion
By Bob Covey
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Be wildfire prepared, not wildfire scared

Photo:Vine Creek prescribed burn spring 2016//B Covey

A few miles east of town, up the Jacques Creek drainage, there is a grey rock band on the northwest side of Cinquefoil Mountain. It’s in the subalpine and it’s fairly nondescript. Unless you’re making your way to the Alpine Club of Canada hut on Mount Colin, you’d hardly notice it.

But local fire fighters know the spot well. Parks Canada Initial Attack Fire Crew members spent more than a week there during the winter of 2008, holed up in a wall tent, monitoring the prescribed burns that eventually helped restore more than 330 hectares of open, montane grasslands, contributed to future wildfire control and assisted in efforts to slow the eastward spread of mountain pine beetle. Later that same winter, they were taking shelter from nasty December winds during another prescribed burn along the Celestine Lake Road, near the aptly named Windy Point.

That was 10 years ago. I remember in 2006 being introduced to the concept of Firesmart by local fire and vegetation specialists. At the time, work was focused around Lake Edith and the Sawridge Hotel.

If you hike up the Pyramid Bench towards Cabin Lake, you can see the Jasper Community Fireguard, an area cleared of vegetation to provide a fuel break and a line of defence from which crews can carry out actions to control a wildfire. Parks Canada’s fire crew has maintained this barrier through manual forest thinning since 2004. And while it’s true that scheduled mechanized forest thinning did not get completed last fall and that there may be a case to be made that Parks Canada should have pulled the trigger while the short weather window allowed it, mechanical thinning has been creating conditions for safer, more efficient prescribed fires on the Pyramid Bench for most of the past decade.

It seems to me—a layperson, at best—that, contrary to the shouts on local social media and even in regional mainstream coverage, progressive, science-based forest management as it relates to wildfires has been actively taking place in Jasper National Park for a very long time. While it’s easy to look at the “matchstick” forest which surrounds us and imagine the worst, it’s important to remember Jasper has always been a community surrounded by flammable timber and that local experts have every summer had little else on their mind than ensuring we have a proper response plan in place, one which scales up or down depending on forest conditions.

It’s also useful to consider that in British Columbia, where fires have caused evacuations of entire communities, those communities still stand and thrive today. Vanderhoof had a 10,000 hectare fire in 2004; 14 years later it is not a ghost town. Last year was a record fire year in B.C. While it was certainly traumatic for those communities affected, the big takeaway for emergency response officials is that no lives were lost due to the wildfires.

These are significant counterpoints to the sky-is-falling mentality we’re easily duped by thanks to social media and a few “experts” being quoted in the news. For the record, forest professionals are not wildfire specialists. Their opinions should only carry so much water.

So douse those anxieties about having to inevitably return to a burned out shell of a town. Cool those heels in the fact that Jasper has an entire suite of response mechanisms to manage the threat of wildfires. That’s not to say don’t be prepared if the worst does happen—quite the opposite, in fact. It is absolutely critical that each of us are Wildfire Ready. If you’re reading this online, the information is right here.

Because being wildfire prepared is much different than being wildfire scared. Just ask any of your fire fighter friends.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Vine Creek prescribed fire, spring 2016 // B Covey
Articles You May LIke ›
The cycle continues: Wildfire and wildlife
Environment
The cycle continues: Wildfire and wildlife
Mark Bradley 
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
While some animals will die in a fire, most do not. To varying degrees, species have adapted to fires. Biologist and Jasper Local contributor Mark Bra...
this is a test
Fire ban issued for Jasper
Environment
Fire ban issued for Jasper
Effective May 11, Jasper National Park and the Municipality of Jasper are issuing a park and town-wide fire ban
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Jasper National Park is issuing a fire ban. The ban is effective Thursday, May 11. Parks Canada announced the fire ban in partnership with the Municip...
this is a test
Prescribed fire jumps highway, causes four hour traffic delay
Environment
Prescribed fire jumps highway, causes four hour traffic delay
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
A prescribed fire that jumped Highway 16, burned 100 hectares at the Jasper airstrip and created enough smoke to shut down traffic for four hours was ...
this is a test
Snaring Road closed for prescribed fire
Environment
Snaring Road closed for prescribed fire
Bob Covey 
Monday, May 2, 2022
Parks Canada is undertaking prescribed fire activities. If prescribed weather and burning conditions are met, Jasper National Park’s fire management s...
this is a test
Most Read ›
Trail tech: The next generation
Biking
Trail tech: The next generation
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Rugged roads and twisting trails await those who seek. Thanks to its history of trail use by outfitters and recreationalists, Jasper has established i...
this is a test
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Arts & Culture
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Jasperites donned their red and white, kitted out their floats and paraded around the community with pride on Canada Day (Tuesday, July 1). Local busi...
this is a test
Aussie folk artist topping live music event at JPP
Arts & Culture
Aussie folk artist topping live music event at JPP
Sophie Pfisterer, freelance contributor 
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
One of Jasper’s most popular restaurants will soon be dishing up live music and good vibes. On July 4 at 8:30 p.m., Jasper Pizza Place will host a roo...
this is a test
Introducing Linwood Homes
Featured Builders
Introducing Linwood Homes
Saturday, June 28, 2025
How long have you been in business? Linwood Homes was founded i n 1968 in Alberta. Our business is over 55 years old. How many homes have you built? W...
this is a test
Latest ›
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2025
Community
CONGRATULATIONS Class of 2025
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Congratulations to the 2025 graduates of Jasper Jr/Sr High School and École Desrochers! These bright young individuals are now stepping confidently in...
this is a test
Meet the locals: Fran Jones
Community
Meet the locals: Fran Jones
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
While Jasper's mountains, rivers and lakes get plenty of (deserved) air time, it's the people who live here that make the community welcoming and incl...
this is a test
Tearful goodbye planned for beloved family
Community
Tearful goodbye planned for beloved family
Bob Covey 
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
A beloved family is saying goodbye to Jasper, and their friends are throwing a bittersweet going-away party. “There will be a lot of tears,” said orga...
this is a test
Jasper’s two gas stations are swamped, council hears
Business
Jasper’s two gas stations are swamped, council hears
Peter Shokeir, Local Journalism Initiative, Jasper Fitzhugh 
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Trafficcongestion is becoming a growing issue at the town’s two remaining gas stations, according to a letter sent to Jasper Municipal Council. Mayor ...
this is a test

NEXT ARTICLE

Tone down the boom-boom

Letters, Opinion

Most Read ›
Trail tech: The next generation
Biking
Trail tech: The next generation
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Rugged roads and twisting trails await those who seek. Thanks to its history of trail use by outfitters and recreationalists, Jasper has established i...
this is a test
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Arts & Culture
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Jasperites donned their red and white, kitted out their floats and paraded around the community with pride on Canada Day (Tuesday, July 1). Local busi...
this is a test
Aussie folk artist topping live music event at JPP
Arts & Culture
Aussie folk artist topping live music event at JPP
Sophie Pfisterer, freelance contributor 
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
One of Jasper’s most popular restaurants will soon be dishing up live music and good vibes. On July 4 at 8:30 p.m., Jasper Pizza Place will host a roo...
this is a test
Introducing Linwood Homes
Featured Builders
Introducing Linwood Homes
Saturday, June 28, 2025
How long have you been in business? Linwood Homes was founded i n 1968 in Alberta. Our business is over 55 years old. How many homes have you built? W...
this is a test
Latest ›
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Arts & Culture
Float on: Canada Day Parade gallery
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
Jasperites donned their red and white, kitted out their floats and paraded around the community with pride on Canada Day (Tuesday, July 1). Local busi...
this is a test
Aussie folk artist topping live music event at JPP
Arts & Culture
Aussie folk artist topping live music event at JPP
Sophie Pfisterer, freelance contributor 
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
One of Jasper’s most popular restaurants will soon be dishing up live music and good vibes. On July 4 at 8:30 p.m., Jasper Pizza Place will host a roo...
this is a test
Trail tech: The next generation
Biking
Trail tech: The next generation
Georgia Ristivojevic 
Monday, June 30, 2025
Rugged roads and twisting trails await those who seek. Thanks to its history of trail use by outfitters and recreationalists, Jasper has established i...
this is a test
Introducing Linwood Homes
Featured Builders
Introducing Linwood Homes
Saturday, June 28, 2025
How long have you been in business? Linwood Homes was founded i n 1968 in Alberta. Our business is over 55 years old. How many homes have you built? W...
this is a test
This site complies with Jasper requirements
Contact us
Privacy Policy
Advertise With Us
About The Jasper Local
Accessibility Policy
Support

Follow Us

Advertise with us

Measurable, targeted, local. Email example@thejasperlocal.com

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store

© Copyright The Jasper Local