JASPER – The wildfire in Jasper National Park is still out-of-control as emergency crews prepare to bulldoze protection lines around the community before warmer and drier temperatures in the coming days.
In a Saturday evening (July 27) update, Parks Canada said that structural hot spots within the Alberta mountain townsite have been extinguished, while firefighters continue to monitor for any flare ups around infrastructure.
Sprinklers are being placed at the active fire perimeter adjacent to the community and outlying structures, including at Lake Edith and businesses north of the town of Jasper.
Crews begin preparation to bulldoze a protection line.
“Bulldozers are preparing to put protection lines around the north end of the community and to help reduce spread west of the community on the lower slopes of Whistler mountain,” said a Parks Canada statement. “Areas under consideration also include widening existing fire guards to ensure no further damage to the community.”
Parks Canada has also requested a night vision helicopter. The specialized equipment will allow water bucketing to happen overnight. Additionally, hundreds of more firefighters from across Canada and internationally are expected to join the battle against Alberta wildfires in the next few days.
The Municipality of Jasper also revealed a map and street address sheet of where wildfires have done the most damage within the mountain townsite.
On the coloured map, green indicates no visible damage, yellow is visible damage and red is destroyed.
The municipality said the “information is still preliminary and is based on the damage that is visible from the street.”
In an update on the devastating wildfires on Saturday afternoon, Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) said critical infrastructure within the Jasper townsite has been protected, such as the hospital, emergency services building, schools, activity centre and the wastewater treatment plant, but firefighting efforts within the town and national park remain ongoing.
Stephen Lacroix, AEMA senior assistant deputy minister and managing director said it will be weeks before residents, who fled the incoming wildfire danger at nighttime last Monday, will be able to return to the fire-ravaged town.
Approximately 17,100 people have evacuated Jasper National Park since then.
According to Parks Canada, the wildfire was assessed at approximately 32,000 hectares in size, or 320 square km, making it the largest wildfire in more than 100 years in Jasper National Park.
Approximately 30 per cent of the town's buildings were destroyed by the wildfire.
