Huge forest fire reaches Jasper Alberta

[moonstone]

Sad news out of Alberta this evening, the forest fire that began in Jasper national Park, outside the very popular tourist town of Jasper, has reached the southern end of town. There was a mass evacuation order yesterday and the fire doubled in size overnight. There are no timeshares in Jasper that I am aware of but many hotels, motels and lodges in and on the outskirts of town. Currently the Maligne Lodge is fully engulfed and flames are spreading quickly. It is such a beautiful town and area, hopefully the forecasted rain for tonight is heavy enough to help put out the flames.

One of the news articles; https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/jasper-updates-wildfire-reaches-southern-outskirts-of-townsite-1.6976628

~Diane

 

[beejaybee]

This is such dreadful news.
We spent 3 nights in Jasper at Patricia Lake Bungalows in September 2022 just after power had mostly been restored there. Lanterns had been provided us for use in the dark, but luckily power there had come back on. One of our day trips was to Maligne Lake though we didn't visit the lodge there. Dear friends have reservations for late September at PLB in Jasper after hearing us rave about our stay there and the activities we did in Jasper- boat ride on Maligne Lake with waffles afterwards, night sky experience at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and a guided hike on Mt. Edith Cavell.

 

[klpca]

I have been following this news. It is just heartbreaking.

 

[WinniWoman]

Terrible. The Canadian Rockies would have been a choice of mine to visit if not for the Sicily trip (which The NY Times just did a big story this week on about the drought).

Seems like so much bad going on with mother nature lately.

 

[moonstone]

A friend from Edmonton just sent me this video of downtown Jasper taken by a reporter.

x.com

x.com

The red line on this map is the path the truck drove. Everything south of there is gone and a lot to the north.

Just heartbreaking!

~Diane

Edited to add the map. Our son who is a VP over commercial large loss with a major North American restoration company is waiting to see if they get any smoke damage remediation claims. He said the fire burned so hot and fast there will likely no fire damage remediation - just like when Fort McMurray AB burned years ago.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Oh my, I have no words! We spent a night at the Maligne Lodge a number of years ago on a visit to the Canadian Rockies, and it’s such a beautiful area that it makes me very sad to know it’s gone.

 

[Tacoma]

Devastating video. Even watching the news last night I was hoping it was only the fringes of the town. So sad for everyone. Last time I was there was summer 2020.

 

[Superchief]

Taking the Canadian Rockies train is on my bucket list and I hope to do it in the near future. The trains are cancelled for the next few days, as well as the Rocky Mountaineer through the area.

Current Travel Updates | Rocky Mountaineer

www.rockymountaineer.com

 

[easyrider]

What a disaster. We are/were scheduled to be in Jasper and Banff this summer. I remember saying that summer is wild fire season and the area could get smoked out. Summer is the best time for a river float so we decided summer. I hadn't considered that the City of Jasper would burn.

I wonder how the fire started. In our area a wildfire took off a couple of days ago. It was arson. They have a video of the guys car so I think they will catch him. The fire ripped through a small vacation home area before jumping a river and getting very close to a small city. Around our city is a green way that follows the river. There is a woman arsonist setting fires along this corridor that has been captured on trail cams but seems to evade actual capture. There should be a severe consequence for these crimes, imo.

Bill

 

[moonstone]

I wonder how the fire started.

I read in one report it was believed to have started with a lightning strike in a forest, just like many of the other Alberta and British Columbia forest fires have started. They are having a very hot and dry summer out there.

From the Edmonton Journal online newspaper;
"Parks Canada estimated Friday afternoon that 30 per cent of the Jasper townsite had been destroyed by flames. Parks Canada confirmed in a statement late Thursday that the Jasper hospital, emergency services building, two schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant were all successfully protected. The latest statement said the west side of town had seen the most significant damage." It will likely be several days before residents are allowed back into town. So far there are no reports of any deaths or serious injuries.

The rail line that passes through the burned part of town, part of the main cross Canada route, has been inspected for damage and re-opened for freight trains this afternoon. Freight destined for various parts of Canada was already starting to pile up on the west coast shipping yards in Vancouver and Prince Rupert.


~Diane