JASPER, Canada – A massive wildfire has ravaged part of the tourist town of Jasper, situated in the heart of Jasper National Park in Alberta. Firefighters are actively working to save as many buildings as possible amidst the ongoing blaze, authorities reported on Thursday.
The town, along with the park which attracts over two million tourists annually, was evacuated on Monday. At the time of evacuation, there were an estimated 15,000 visitors in the park. Environment Canada forecasts 10 mm to 20 mm of rain for Thursday, offering some hope that the rainfall might assist firefighting efforts.
This wildfire is among hundreds currently burning across the western provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. In April, the federal government warned that high temperatures and dry forests could make this one of Canada’s worst fire seasons on record. In Jasper, flames reportedly reached heights of 400 feet and advanced at a rate of 15 meters per minute.
“Significant loss has occurred within the town site,” Parks Canada said in a statement, referencing the devastating images and videos circulating online. In response to the crisis, the federal government and other cities in Alberta are dispatching assistance. One major concern is the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, which transports 890,000 barrels of oil per day from Edmonton to Vancouver.
“Losing structures and parts of our community is like losing a close friend,” Jasper mayor Richard Ireland told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. “But the people have been saved, and that is significant. We can find a way to rebuild.” Among the destroyed buildings is the Maligne Lodge hotel, located in the south of the town.
“It’s just so sad to know that so many families and people have lost not just their belongings but their livelihood and a beautiful park,” said the hotel’s owner, Karyne Decore. Currently, Alberta is battling 175 wildfires, with more than 50 classified as out of control.
The Jasper fire could become one of the most damaging in Alberta since the 2016 Fort McMurray fire, which necessitated the evacuation of all 90,000 residents, destroyed 10% of the city’s structures, and halted over a million barrels per day of oil production.