Parks Canada officials convened a technical briefing to provide the latest information on the wildfire situation in Jasper National Park.
Mayor Richard Ireland of the Municipality of Jasper began the briefing by acknowledging the exceptional stress and strain the wildfire has placed on residents and visitors. He commended the community for their patience and cooperation during the evacuation, which occurred late in the evening, and thanked neighboring communities for their support.
“I credit all of them for the patience they showed for the support they offered to each other in ensuring a safe and orderly evacuation,” said Ireland. He emphasized the ongoing uncertainty and the need for continued vigilance, noting that safety is the highest priority for both residents and first responders.
Alan Fehr, Superintendent of the Jasper Field Unit for Parks Canada, provided an overview of the wildfire situation. He highlighted the significance of Jasper National Park, which is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stressed that safety remains the top priority.
“Jasper National Park is now closed so that we can respond to the wildfire situation,” Fehr stated. He described the collaborative efforts between Parks Canada and the Municipality of Jasper, including assisting hikers in evacuating from the backcountry and protecting property and infrastructure.
Katie Ellsworth, Plan Section Chief and one of the incident commanders, detailed the specifics of the wildfires burning within Jasper National Park. “This is a dynamic and evolving situation, and we understand the challenges this poses to residents and visitors,” Ellsworth explained. She described the deployment of Parks Canada resources, including an incident management team and additional firefighting resources.
Ellsworth noted that aircraft have been assessing the wildfires and prioritizing operations for the day. “Structure protection is currently being installed on critical infrastructure, and this is being managed by fire teams from across the region,” she added.
The response to the wildfires is a coordinated effort involving multiple agencies. Alberta Wildfire and the Alberta Emergency Management Agency are providing support with specialized resources and structural protection units. Helicopter resources are actively engaged in containing the fire and evacuating individuals from remote areas of the park.
Fehr expressed gratitude to the community and various agencies involved in the response. “Working in unified command with the Municipality of Jasper and with the support of many additional agencies and jurisdictions, we will undertake the work ahead of us,” he said.
Officials emphasized that the situation remains fluid and evolving. Additional media updates will be provided as new information becomes available. The community was urged to seek comfort and stay tuned for further updates.
In closing, Ellsworth reiterated the priority of protecting the town of Jasper and limiting the wildfire’s spread. “Our priority is to protect the town and the community of Jasper by limiting wildfire spread and growth towards town, Highway 16, and the critical infrastructure that the community and the incident management team rely on,” she concluded.
The briefing underscored the resilience and unity of the Jasper community in the face of this emergency. As the situation develops, continued cooperation and adherence to safety protocols will be crucial in managing the wildfire and ensuring the safety of all affected.