- Half of Jasper destroyed by wildfires
- Cooler weather brings slight relief
- 36,000 hectares affected, no casualties
Huge, fast-moving wildfires have destroyed up to half of the ancient Canadian town of Jasper, according to officials, as firefighters work to rescue as many structures as possible.
The blazes have destroyed entire streets, with video footage showing smoking ruins where homes once stood and charred remains of cars.
On Thursday, cooling temperatures brought some relief, but park officials cautioned that the fires remained out of control and predicted more warm weather.
Approximately 20,000 visitors and 5,000 residents have evacuated the mountainous area of Alberta Province, a popular tourist destination, despite the absence of casualties.
Jasper National Park stated late Thursday night local time that 36,000 hectares (89,000 acres) of land had been impacted, but surrounding villages were not at risk.
It stated that strong winds, the intensity of the fire, and smoke had hampered efforts to map the fires.
During a news conference on Thursday, distraught Alberta Premier Danielle Smith struggled to describe the extent of the damage, saying “potentially 30 to 50%” of structures had been destroyed.
There is no doubt that this is the greatest nightmare for any community, she said, adding that Jasper National Park has been “a source of pride” for many generations.
Ms. Smith became extremely emotional as she emphasized the park’s beauty and importance to the community, which depends heavily on tourism. Every year, over 2.5 million people visit the park and the adjoining Banff National Park.
According to CBC News, there have been disruptions to the area’s rail, phone, and power services.
Karyn Decore, owner of the Maligne Lodge near Jasper, was on vacation when she discovered her hotel had burned down. On Wednesday night, she received a snapshot of the burning structure.
“I was horrified and devastated when I saw that photo,” she explained. I believe it will take several days for the shock to subside.
It’s difficult for everyone to accept that we’ve lost one of our properties, she said, adding that she plans to restore the lodge.
She described the storm as violent, with dark red skies, whipping winds, intense rain, and lightning.
We are among the last travelers to view Jasper in its full glory; it will be a long time before it recovers. It is very heartbreaking for them all, and my heart is broken.
Officials warn that the extent of the damage remains unknown, despite the dispatch of hundreds of firefighters from around the world to assist with the response. They added that Thursday’s emphasis was on limiting the soaring flames that overwhelmed the town from both sides.
High winds caused the fire to spread late Wednesday, according to Pierre Martel, director of Parks Canada’s national fire control program.
At that point, Mr. Martel stated that it was little more than a monster. “We do not have any tools in our toolbox to deal with it.”
In other locations, the flames reached 100 m (328 ft) high, covering “an inordinate amount of space in a very short period of time,” according to one official.
The winds blew the fire into town in “less than 30 minutes,” according to Mike Ellis, Alberta’s minister of public safety, when it was 5 kilometers (3 miles) outside of Jasper.
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Any firefighter will tell you that there is little to nothing you can do when confronted with a wall of flames, he added.
Nobody expected the fire to arrive so fast, so enormously, and so quickly.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, commended the emergency services for their reaction to the incident.
As the devastating images from Jasper emerge, I’d like to thank the brave first responders who are currently working to preserve every home and community in Alberta, he added.
This marks another year of challenging fire conditions in the province. Between March 1 and October 31, 2018, Alberta burned a record 2.2 million hectares.
Outside of Alberta, there are more than 45 active fires in British Columbia, and flames are also burning in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Utah in the United States.
Over the last two decades, the global number of fires has decreased.
Studies, however, believe that climate change will cause more lightning to strike forests in the world’s north, increasing the risk of wildfires.
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