Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper are coordinating efforts to implement a fire ban in Jasper National Park.

Effective July 12, 2024, a fire ban will be in place in Jasper National Park and the Municipality of Jasper until further notice. This measure aims to prevent human-caused wildfires.

The province of Alberta has also implemented a fire ban as of 4 p.m. Wednesday July 10. It covers much of northern Alberta and the eastern slopes of the Rockies.

Currently, there are no active wildfires in Jasper National Park. However, hot and dry weather has increased the Fire Danger Rating to extreme. The low precipitation in spring has led to unseasonably dry conditions, further elevating the risk of wildfires.

To ensure safety, a dedicated team of fire personnel and a helicopter are ready to respond to any wildfires, according to Parks Canada. This team conducts helicopter patrols daily to monitor the park for any signs of wildfires. Implementing the fire ban reduces the likelihood of human-caused wildfires, helping to protect visitors, residents and wildlife in the park.

Parks Canada says the decision to implement a fire ban is based on an assessment of local fire hazards, current and forecasted weather conditions, the amount of moisture in vegetation, the regional wildfire situation, and the availability of responders and equipment. This list is available online at parks.canada.ca/jasper-fire-ban

Fire ban in Jasper townsite

As Jasper National Park plans its fire ban, the Municipality of Jasper is implementing a fire ban of its own starting July 12.

Jasper’s Fire Chief has the authority to issue a fire ban in the Municipality of Jasper. For more information about the fire ban in the municipality, visit the Municipality of Jasper’s website.

Jasper Local staff // info@thejasperlocal.com