After nearly seven weeks since a wildfire forced the evacuation of Jasper National Park and burned nearly a third of the townsite’s structures, Parks Canada has announced that the blaze is officially under control. Landon Shepherd, incident commander with the parks agency, mentioned in an online media briefing that the fire has been sufficiently suppressed to ensure it won’t spread outside of its defined perimeter, which measures 278 km long. The fire’s status was last changed on August 17, moving from out-of-control to “being held,” indicating that it wasn’t expected to spread into any priority areas. Residents of the Jasper townsite were allowed to return home on August 16, just one day before the change in status.
Even though the wildfire is now under control, Shepherd mentioned that there is still a chance of smoke and flames being visible inside the fire area throughout early winter. He also emphasized that while there is cause for celebration with the fire being under control, there is still a lot more work to be done. The collaborative efforts to combat the wildfire won’t end with just achieving the “under control” status, and they look forward to working with the Municipality of Jasper on the road to rebuilding and recovery. The town’s 5,000 residents and 20,000 visitors to Jasper National Park were ordered to evacuate late July due to the wildfire, and Shepherd noted that the change in the fire’s status won’t impact what areas of the park are open.
Despite the fire being under control, campgrounds and many trails remain closed in Jasper National Park. The reopening of these areas requires crews to ensure that they are safe from fire-weakened trees. The park’s website mentions that roads are also closed except for Highway 16, Highway 93N, the Columbia Icefield area, Miette Road and Miette Hot Springs area, the Jasper town site, and the Pyramid Lake area west of the Pyramid Lake parking lot. Shepherd emphasized the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of these areas before reopening them to the public, highlighting the need for continued collaboration with the Municipality of Jasper for the road to recovery and rebuilding.
The wildfire in Jasper National Park had a significant impact on the townsite and forced many residents and visitors to evacuate for their safety. The fire burning nearly a third of the townsite’s structures raised concerns about the safety of the area and led to a massive evacuation. The efforts of Parks Canada and other agencies to combat the wildfire and bring it under control have been ongoing for nearly two months, with the recent announcement marking a significant milestone in the containment of the blaze. While there may still be visible smoke and flames in the fire area, the official status of the wildfire being under control gives hope for the future recovery and rebuilding of Jasper.
The evacuation and subsequent containment of the wildfire in Jasper National Park have been a challenging and significant event for the town and its residents. The collaboration between Parks Canada, the Municipality of Jasper, and other agencies has been instrumental in ensuring the safety of the area and working towards controlling the fire. While the fire being under control is a positive development, there is still much work to be done in terms of ensuring the safety of the park’s campgrounds and trails before reopening them to the public. The ongoing efforts to secure these areas and support the recovery and rebuilding process highlight the dedication and commitment of all involved parties.
