By Laura Keil
At least 30 per cent of the Jasper townsite was burned by the uncontrollable wildfire that flared up at the town’s doorstep last night, according to Premier Smith and Minister Ellis this morning, though Parks Canada says it cannot confirm the percentage.
A map showing what some believed were properties that were burned was leaked online but officials are warning it does not necessarily represent what has burned and viewers should not rely on it for individual structures.
As the fire swelled, wildland firefighters that did not have self-contained breathing apparatuses had to leave the scene. Meanwhile, structural firefighters – including some from McBride and Valemount – headed into the fire to help save as many buildings as possible.
Their work seems to have paid off, as areas of the community remain standing, including commercial buildings along Connaught and Patricia. However, the fight is not yet over.
Jasper National Park posted this morning that the rain did not make a meaningful impact on the fire, and it remains out of control.
The Park says they are thankful for the help from neighbouring communities.
“We are thankful to all of our partners and municipal fire agencies who have sent resources to help protect our community and national park. We also wish to acknowledge and thank all the communities who have received everyone who has been displaced by this fire.”
As per their update this morning, the Park says they cannot yet share information about specific locations and the extent of damage.
“While we understand people are desperate to know about the status of our community, homes, work places, businesses, and cherished places we will need some time to stabilize this incident as we access and assess structures.”
“As you can understand, the accuracy of this information is critical because it has a direct impact on members of the community. We will share more information as soon as we are able to ensure its accuracy.”
The Park says no injuries have been reported.
A video of some of the devastation is below:
