For the most up-to-date information on the wildfire and for information and resources for evacuees, visit the Municipality of Jasper’s website and the social media channels of the MOJ and Jasper National Park.

Friday, August 16 will mark the start of Jasper’s re-entry phase.

On that day, Incident Management Team (IMT) personnel working on the Jasper wildfire incident expect to have re-entry criteria met and the minimum critical services in place to allow for the safe return of residents.

In an August 12 media briefing, Incident Commander with the Municipality of Jasper, Christine Nadon, stressed that the re-entry phase is not the same as re-occupation.

“It’s a voluntary re-entry,” Nadon said. “It’s more about a reconnaissance mission to go see what’s there.”

The August 16 return date is conditional on achieving and maintaining the re-entry criteria. Increased fire activity or unplanned changes to critical services could impact the re-entry date, said Jonathon Large, Incident Commander with Parks Canada.

Nadon said that as of Monday, 95 percent of the town’s electricity and 80 percent of natural gas connections had been restored. Emergency services (fire, EMS, police and 911 dispatch) were completely restored on Sunday. Work to restore critical retail—gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies and banks—was expected to be complete by Friday. Basic healthcare was anticipated to be online by Friday as well.

“The full scope of [healthcare] services are not going to be restored by Friday but basic emergency care will be available,” Nadon said.

Residents will be able to access the townsite on Friday in conjunction with the regular openings of Highway 16—which since August 9 has been open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., barring restrictions for the transit of fire fighting equipment. The Municipality of Jasper has said in its comprehensive re-entry guide that residents should expect to see significant damage to the townsite, including possible mental health triggers.

“The state of Jasper is very different now. The process of returning may be intense.”

The Municipality of Jasper has a list of supports for evacuated residents who may be experiencing mental health challenges.  

Limited services

While much of the north/east end of Jasper appears undamaged, Nadon reminded residents that no assessments have been conducted on private property and that there are very limited services in Jasper. Some homes may be standing, but without services.

“It’s very important for homeowners to check with their insurers and do a good visual assessment of their property before going in as the status of the homes themselves have not been determined.” 

Properties on the west end of Jasper that are still standing will take more time to be serviced with utilities. Those planning on staying overnight in Jasper are advised to bring essential supplies to last for up to 72 hours including food, drinking water and medication. More details and comprehensive guidelines to safely re-entering homes are part of the reentry guidelines published on the MOJ’s website. 

However, Nadon said residents shouldn’t presume they’ll be able to stay the night in their homes.

“There could be significant damage to the inside of the house,” she said. “Be prepared to go back to whatever accommodation you stayed in.”

No visitor amenities

There are no hard restrictions for visitors at this time, Nadon said, but noted there are no visitor amenities available.

“I would suggest for visitors, give Jasper residents and visitors a few days to see the damages for themselves and give them a chance to reestablish their service levels,” she said.

The Municipality of Jasper said in a social media post that the RCMP have a strong presence in the town, on the highway and at the park’s gates. 

“Their top priority is to keep Jasper secure,” the post reads.

The MOJ is working with the Insurance Bureau of Canada to action a plan for safe disposal of fridges, freezers and dishwashers—commonly called “white goods.”

“There will be a town-wide process for getting rid of those appliances when the time comes,” Nadon said.

There is currently a boil water advisory in some parts of Jasper. The MOJ is working on a map of affected areas, including specific instructions about what to do with a boil water advisory. 

While the IMT is equipped for the re-entry of all residents on Friday, Nadon said for those who can wait, they should.

“Unless you’re really itching, maybe wait a few days,” she said.

State of Emergency still in effect

There is still a local state of emergency in effect. The status gives authorities special powers, such as accessing private properties to mitigate public safety hazards—capping gas lines, for example.

It’s anticipated that the evacuation order will be downgraded to an evacuation alert on Friday.

“We have confidence it’s safe for the public to go back…which means residents who do go back to re-enter their homes need to be ready to evacuate again if conditions change.”

The 33,000 hectare Jasper wildfire is still active and considered out-of-control on several fronts, but on August 11 the northwest wildfire perimeter around the townsite was 89 percent contained. 

Fire crews continue to focus on this area to gain control and secure this perimeter to fully eliminate the threat to the townsite. The wildfires at Lake Edith and Trefoil Lake, as well as in the Jasper Park Lodge area, are now classified as controlled. 

Housing needs

There are currently no resources for residents who lost their homes. Nadon said there is ongoing work with all levels of government to create plans for housing. 

The Municipality of Jasper, in collaboration with the Government of Alberta and Parks Canada, has established a joint approach to address the immediate and long-term recovery needs of the community following the wildfire. The Jasper-Alberta-Canada Intergovernmental Redevelopment Committee (JAC-IRC), will provide oversight, coordination and advice to elected officials as Jasper recovers and rebuilds.

Jasper residents are encouraged to take part in a Housing Needs Assessment Survey. The survey will be open until midnight on August 23. The information collected will support the JAC-IRC in determining the community’s housing next steps.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com