Re: Save the hot air: Decades of wildfire preparation was a success, not a failure (Editorial, July 29, 2024)

Dear Bob,

Hang in there and don’t let the gasbags get you down. The same thing happens in the American West after a major wildfire. The Monday morning quarterbacks distort and over-simplify. The real culprits are past fire suppression policies and climate change.

I’m heartbroken. I fell in love with Jasper and its spectacular mountain setting, friendly people, superb restaurants, and vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere on my recent visit. Sadly, I was among the 25,000 evacuees and my visit was cut short.

I think your mayor deserves a lot of praise for being calm in the eye of the storm and for providing the public with regular, accurate updates about the fires. His leadership instilled confidence, and I was saddened to learn that he lost his house.

As devastated as I am by what happened, I take solace in the fact that there’s still a lot of unburned beauty left in Jasper National Park and that so much of Jasper was spared any damage. My prayers remain with Jasper residents, brave firefighters, and town and park officials.

Best wishes,

Martin Griffith
Reno, Nevada

P.S. Because of health concerns, smoke prompted me to return home over the weekend. My car remains parked along a section of the Icefields Parkway that was closed by the fire. I’ll fly to Alberta to retrieve my car after it reopens. After hiking over Maligne Pass, I can see why they call the park an international treasure