Wildfire in Jasper National Park causes extensive damage to beloved town, surrounding area

( Post Millennial )

Earlier this week, wildfires broke out in northern Alberta and quickly converged on Jasper, located in the national park of the same name. As residents and visitors fled to Edmonton, Calgary, and parts of British Columbia, the flames moved in and engulfed the town, destroying numerous structures and rendering parts unrecognizable.

Crews have been busy fighting the 36,000 hectare fire, and have made some progress, however it is still not entirely under control. As a result, authorities have yet to announce when the thousands of people displaced by the blaze will be allowed to return home. The cause of the fire has also not been determined.

As the Jasper Fitzhugh reports, a preliminary review estimated that between 30 to 50 percent of the buildings in town were damaged, though that number is likely to rise as the smoke clears and a more thorough analysis can be undertaken. Along with countless homes, a number of iconic buildings were reduced to rumble, among them the Maligne Lodge.

In a statement, CEO Karyn Decore said she and her team were "devastated," but "grateful there are no fatalities reported." The lodge, which has been in her family since 1961, is located on Jasper's main drag and has been a mainstay in the town for decades.

The areas most famous hotel, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, also incurred fire damage, however according to staff, most of the structures "remain standing and intact." They confirmed that the resort will re-open as soon as possible.

During a press conference on Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reminded the estimated 25,000 people evacuated from the area that they "are not alone," and that the whole province was with them. Fighting back tears, she vowed to do whatever it takes to ensure that everyone impacted by the fire had the support they needed. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government would be "deploying more resources" to assist local crews on the ground.

Jasper National Park officials reported Thursday night that 10-15mm of rain had fallen in the past 24 hours, and that the precipitation "will likely keep fire behaviour low for the next 72 hours. Temperatures are expected to remain around 20 degrees, with only a slight chance of rain over the next week.