Jasper, a popular tourist destination located in the heart of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, was severely impacted by an uncontrollable wildfire, resulting in considerable destruction. Authorities reported on Thursday that firefighters were focusing their effort on preserving as many structures as they could. On Monday, the town and the park, which typically attract more than 2 million visitors every year, had been evacuated. At the time, it was estimated that around 15,000 people were visiting the park.
Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, described the situation as a ‘community’s worst nightmare’, as she detailed that the fire was still not under control. She suggested that there could be between 30% to 50% structural damage, indicating a substantial rebuilding process was ahead.
While Parks Canada confirmed a ‘significant loss’ of buildings in the town, finer detail regarding the extent of the damage was not immediately available. Video footage from town indicated widespread destruction, with even an entire church among the casualties.
Jasper’s mayor, Richard Ireland, noted that the community was starting to grapple with the extensive damage caused by the wildfire. A key concern is the potential threat to the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, which can transport 890,000 barrels of oil a day from Edmonton to Vancouver. The pipeline operator, Trans Mountain, however, reassured in a statement that there was no discernable damage to the infrastructure and that operations continued securely.
Emergency crews from multiple cities in Alberta and the federal government are being dispatched to assist. Furthermore, around 400 firefighters from overseas locations including Mexico, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand are scheduled to arrive soon.
The province of Alberta is currently witnessing 176 active wildfires, over 50 of which remain uncontained. Approximately ten of these fires are near the British Columbia border where numerous other fires are also running rampant. At one stage on Wednesday, officials recorded flames reaching up to 120m in height and advancing at a rate of 15m per minute.
Co-owner of a local restaurant in the heart of Jasper, Ashley Kliewer, expressed her devastation to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
In expressions of concern for the future, locals have made it clear that they believe the traditional way of life in Jasper is a thing of the past due to the devastating fires. The fires in Jasper could be responsible for some of the worst damage in Alberta since the 2016 catastrophe in Fort McMurray’s oil town, which necessitated the relocation of all 90,000 citizens. The disaster annihilated a tenth of the city’s buildings and disrupted daily oil production by over a million barrels.
In the meantime, thousands were conveyed to safety in northern California during the night, fleeing from burgeoning wildfires. These wildfires are among a multitude of others that currently blight the Pacific Northwest and Canada, descending entire regions into smoke-filled chaos, as reported by fire and meteorological services.
The Park Fire in California’s Butte County went through a drastic increase from approximately 566 hectares on Wednesday to about 18,400 hectares by Thursday, announced California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. This wildfire, located about 130km north of Sacramento in California’s Central Valley, had been suppressed by only 3 percent by Thursday morning, stated Cal Fire Public Information Officer Dan Collins. No casualties have been reported so far and mandatory evacuations have been carried out.
According to Collins, 400 firefighters are already at the site, with more reinforcements coming from all corners of the state. He emphasized that the support was pivotal. Over 4,000 people from Butte County and the city of Chico have been evacuated, revealed Megan McMann, spokesperson for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Meanwhile, the Durkee Fire in Oregon, recognised as the biggest active fire in the United States, has incinerated at least 97,000 hectares. Local media have reported several small towns under threat, extensive damage to ranchlands, and hundreds of cattle killed.
Forecasters such as Marc Chenard from the National Weather Service at College Park, Maryland, warned of the potential for high winds and lightning strikes to exacerbate the situation. The fire, located about 160km northwest of Boise, Idaho, had yet to be contained as of Thursday morning. Further winds and a possible lightning storm are anticipated in the weather forecast.