By Laura Keil
Two engines and eight firefighters sourced from the Valemount and McBride volunteer fire crews are on their way to Jasper to assist in the fight to save buildings in the Jasper townsite.
Wildland firefighters who did not have breathing apparatuses were pulled from the fire earlier this evening due to the severe air quality, but structural firefighters from Jasper, Hinton, Valemount, McBride and beyond are working to save as many buildings as possible.
Much-needed rain began descending in the park around 10pm MDT, a welcome but overdue offering from Mother Nature who has lobbed nothing but hard balls today with regards to the fire.
Jasper National Park has already announced the town has suffered heavy losses after the fire reached the townsite around 6pm MDT.
As many Jasperites wait on tenterhooks to hear news of their home or business, some are already reporting their homes have burned down and they’ve lost everything except what they were able to pack up during the brief evacuation alert prior to the evacuation order Monday evening.
In addition to Jasper residents, some 20,000 Jasper Park visitors also had to leave on short notice Monday night. Many evacuees reported leaving behind important items such as passports, prescription eye glasses, and wallets.
First Responders were also pulled from the town earlier today as the fire flared up.
A Parks Official interviewed by another media outlet said the south fire was pushed north towards the townsite due to windy conditions and aided by “receptive fuels.”
“It’s very, very dry conditions in Jasper,” the Information Officer said. “The fire behaviour was quite intense starting at about 1 o’clock. Fire crews were witnessing 300-400 foot flames, fully involved continuous crown fire, and a fire spread rate of approximately 15 metres per minute.”
