JASPER – About 30 per cent of Jasper’s buildings burned to the ground as an out-of-control wildlife roared through the national park community, Parks Canada has confirmed.
In an update from Parks Canada at 12:40 p.m. Friday, the federal agency said 358 of a total of 1,113 structures within the town have been “destroyed.”
“Assessments of infrastructure damages is ongoing but the damage within the townsite is estimated at around 30 per cent,” the release stated.
Parks Canada says the priority for the 154 firefighters remaining in Jasper is to put out any hot spots on the outskirts of Jasper and in the trees directly surrounding the townsite and all structures.
Officials say cooler conditions are reducing fire behaviour as showers tapered off overnight Thursday and into Friday morning.
“Winds are anticipated to reach up to 30 km/h and may increase fire activity,” states Parks Canada.
Firefighters battled hard to successfully save critical infrastructure including the the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.
“We are grateful to our wildfire teams efforts to contain the fire and minimize the damage,” says the news release.
Based on satellite imaging and what fire crews have been able to determine from the ground, the wildfire is estimated to have burned roughly 36,000 hectares.
Parks says the size of the fire will change.
“Within the estimated perimeter there will be areas completely burned, partially burned and areas which did not burn at all,” the agency states.
Jasper National Park and the townsite remain closed for safety and the evacuation order is still in effect.
Parks Canada says residents and businesses are not allowed to return at this time.
“We understand that this is an incredibly difficult and challenging time but our priorities remain addressing the active fire and assessing structural damage in the community,” the federal agency says.
“We appreciate how hard it is to wait for confirmation about your homes. Our crews continue to fight the fire and we remain focused on making it safe for the people of Jasper to come home.”
