The Alberta government has raised concerns about the messaging used in evacuation orders issued during a wildfire in the Jasper region. Initially, an evacuation order was issued for the Town of Jasper due to a wildfire approaching from the south. However, conflicting information was provided shortly after stating that the fire was not expected to reach the community within five hours. This led to confusion and panic among residents. Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis acknowledged the mixed messaging and stated that the province would be looking into the decision-making process behind it.
Officials from the municipality of Jasper deferred questions to Parks Canada, who had not responded at the time of publishing. Premier Danielle Smith mentioned that this was the first time Jasper had directly accessed the emergency alert system, which may have contributed to the miscommunication. The province is considering implementing additional steps to ensure accurate information is communicated to prevent panic among residents during evacuation situations. Despite the confusion, officials reported that the evacuation process was progressing well and there were no vehicle collisions as a result of the evacuation efforts.
Authorities advised residents to stay updated on the wildfire situation through the Alberta Emergency Alert system, which is designed to reach a wide audience efficiently. The system sends alerts to LTE phones and devices with the Alberta Emergency Alert application. While there may have been some individuals who did not receive the alert, officials believe that most residents would have been informed about the evacuation order. The wildfire in Jasper was believed to have been caused by lightning, and as of Tuesday morning, there were 53 out-of-control wildfires burning in Alberta. Residents were urged to check the Alberta Emergency Alert website for the latest information on evacuation alerts and orders.
The Alberta government plans to investigate the decision-making process behind the mixed messaging in the evacuation orders issued during the Jasper wildfire. Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis expressed concern over the confusion and panic caused by the conflicting information provided to residents. Premier Danielle Smith suggested implementing additional steps to ensure accurate communication during emergency situations to prevent similar incidents in the future. Parks Canada, which was responsible for responding to inquiries about the evacuation orders, had not provided a response at the time of publishing.
Despite the initial confusion, officials reported that the evacuation process was going smoothly, with no vehicle collisions occurring during the evacuation efforts in Jasper. Authorities encouraged residents to monitor the Alberta Emergency Alert system for updates on the wildfire situation and evacuation orders. The system is designed to reach a wide audience efficiently, with alerts sent to LTE phones and devices with the Alberta Emergency Alert application. While there may have been some individuals who did not receive the alert, officials believe that most residents in Jasper would have been informed about the evacuation order.
The wildfire in Jasper was believed to have been sparked by lightning, and as of Tuesday morning, there were 53 out-of-control wildfires burning in Alberta. Residents were advised to check the Alberta Wildfire website for the latest information on wildfire status and danger across the province. Information on fire advisories, restrictions, and bans can be found on the Alberta fire bans website. The province is continuing to monitor the wildfire situation and provide updates to residents through various communication channels, including the Alberta Emergency Alert system. Residents are urged to stay informed and prepared for any potential evacuation orders due to the wildfires in the region.
