The community of Jasper has been forever changed after a massive wildfire spread into the townsite yesterday afternoon (July 24). 

Structural firefighters continue to work to protect homes and buildings in Jasper but significant losses have occurred, including multiple homes and businesses, officials reported.

“It is with heavy hearts that we report this aggressive and fast-moving fire continues to burn in Jasper National Park,” said Pierre Martel, director of Parks Canada’s national fire management program. 

Officials could not speak to the extent of the devastation or to specific infrastructure damage because they are still fighting multiple wildfires in the national park, the largest of which is “tens of thousands of hectares” in size, according to Martel.

That fire—known as the south fire—started on Monday, July 22. Prolonged hot, dry weather had contributed to tinderbox-like fire conditions, allowing a early evening lightning strike approximately 30 kms south of Jasper to explode into an out-of-control wildfire within minutes, according to incident commander Katie Ellsworth.

On the morning of July 24 the fire was five kilometres from the town and by 6 p.m., continued hot, gusty weather drove the flames into the townsite. 

“Flames were about 100 metres above the tree tops,” Martel said. “It was just a monster at that point.”

Red hot embers were being projected up to a kilometre ahead of the raging inferno, raining onto the townsite like missiles. 

“There’s just no tools in the toolbox to deal with the fire at that point. You get out of the way, you retreat and you do what you can to protect communities and infrastructure as best you can,” Martel said.

Earlier in the day, non-essential workers such as food and service volunteers were evacuated. Then the bulk of personnel were evacuated east, to Hinton. A small group of fire fighters sheltered at the Jasper National Park dispatch compound as the fire ripped overhead. 

Finally, at 11 p.m., the forecasted rains came, Martel said, allowing personnel to get back to the work of protecting what critical structures they could. Structural fire crews came back into Jasper that night and early today (July 25).

Social media has been ablaze with images of the destruction. Photos and videos shared surreptitiously circulated quickly. The images give some picture of the devastation, however, officials are reluctant to confirm any details of loss or damage before they can verify it with those on the ground and for the time being, those personnel are still very much focused on fire fighting operations, Mayor Richard Ireland said.

“Like most of you I had hoped to receive some further verified details … but I fully appreciate that as this wildfire continues to rage there are other priorities for those on the ground,” Ireland said.

“I understand the community interest [in having verifiable information]—of course it is one of the most pressing issues for nearly all of our community right now. But until we can verify from people on the ground what is there, our stance is that it would be irresponsible to try and confirm things based on unverified facts.”

Ireland expressed his admiration and gratitude for the efforts of the first responders and fire fighters. Fighting back tears, he addressed evacuated Jasper residents.

“I speak to you today with profound sorrow, as our community begins to come to terms with the devastating impacts of last night’s wildfire that has simply ravaged our small, tight-knit mountain community,” Ireland said. “The losses to many of our residents are facing and feeling defies description and is almost beyond comprehension.” 

There are still multiple wildfires being fought on multiple fronts, including one north of Jasper that was last reported at hundreds of hectares in size.  

Martel said the scale of the still-raging wildfires means the fight is nowhere near over.

“We will be fighting this fire for weeks until it’s under control, and even more before it’s extinguished,” he said.

Ireland, who has been steadfast throughout the emergency, said he and Parks Canada, along with other fire fighting agencies and specialists, will continue to stand together. 

“As mayor and a council we are committed to continuing our support to this truly unprecedented challenge,” Ireland said.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com